Man found guilty in killing of Weymouth police officer, 77-year-old bystander

A Massachusetts man has been found guilty in the killing of a police officer and bystander.

According to multiple reports, 26-year-old Emanuel Lopes was found guilty Friday of murder in the first degree for killing Weymouth Police Sargeant Michael Chesna and guilty of murder in the second degree in the death of 77-year-old bystander Vera Adams.

Lopes was initially on trial last year, however, a mistrial was declared, resulting in the second trial that took place this week.

According to Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office, in July of 2018, Weymouth Police were responding to a report of a driver operating erratically when they came upon a BMW crashed in the vicinity of South Shore Hospital. The operator, Lopes, had fled on foot. Weymouth officers, including Chesna, a 6-year veteran of the force, responded to the area to locate that operator.

Officer Chesna came upon Lopes in the vicinity of Burton Terrace where it intersects with Torrey Road. Lopes was allegedly vandalizing a home at the time. Officer Chesna exited his vehicle, drew his service weapon and began issuing commands to Lopes.

Lopes is then alleged to have struck Officer Chesna in the head with a rock, causing the officer and his gun to fall to the ground. Lopes is then alleged to have taken the officer’s weapon and discharged it repeatedly into his head and torso. He was later transported to nearby South Shore Hospital but did not survive.

Another officer arrived at the scene very close in time and was able to discharge his weapon, striking Lopes in the lower leg. Lopes then fled through adjacent yards and is further accused of discharging Officer Chesna’s firearm into a nearby home, killing Adams.

The defense had argued that Lopes’ mental illness resulted in him not being able to understand his actions.

Sentencing is scheduled for Lopes next month.