Man Who Critically Wounded Denver Officer Sentenced to 52 Years
Denver police Sgt. Tony Lopez Jr. walked with a limp to a courtroom lectern Friday where he stood beside his wife and, for the first time, faced the man who nearly ended his life.
Denver Police Sgt. Tony Lopez Jr. was shot multiple times during a December traffic stop. (Photo: Denver PD)
2 min to read
Denver police Sgt. Tony Lopez Jr. walked with a limp to a courtroom lectern Friday where he stood beside his wife and, for the first time, faced the man who nearly ended his life.
Lopez glanced over to Jason Wood — who sat clad in red jail clothes and shackled — several times as he berated the 36-year-old for being cowardly, callous, and weak.
Ad Loading...
“People have asked me if I have forgiven the defendant for what he has done,” Lopez testified before a judge. “I have not.”
Wood was sentenced to 52 years in prison for shooting Lopez six times during a December traffic stop when he fired a hail of bullets at the police officer.
Jason Wood pleaded guilty to shooting Sgt. Tony Lopez of the Denver Police. Wood was sentenced to 52 years in prison Friday for the attack. (Photo: Booking Photo)
He showed little emotion as a string of Lopez’s family members spoke and had letters read, keeping his eyes focused forward and away from a courtroom filled to its brim, the Denver Post reports.
“Time and time and time again he has shown disregard for human life,” Lopez’s father, police Cmdr. Tony Lopez Sr., testified at the hearing, his voice occasionally cracking with emotion. “He has unfortunately chosen a life of violence.”
Wood pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer and committing a crime of violence. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped three original charges of assault with a deadly weapon, assault of a peace officer with a deadly weapon, and robbery.
Ad Loading...
Wood has a long criminal record in Colorado, including arrests for attempted homicide in a road-rage shooting and kidnapping. Police also said Friday he had a criminal record in Illinois and Louisiana.
“I just wanted to say a little something so that he knew I’m not afraid and also that I get to go enjoy my life,” Sgt. Lopez said, explaining why he chose to address his assailant. “(I’m) going to a steakhouse tonight and he’s going to eat a baloney sandwich somewhere.”
Whether it’s time to buy a personal patrol light or make the decision for the next department-issued patrol light, what do you need to know? How do you weigh the different variables and make the best choice?
Warriors Heart works closely with federal and community partners to expand treatment options for veterans and first responders. By combining specialized clinical care with a peer-driven recovery environment, the program helps warriors rebuild strength, restore relationships, and rediscover purpose.
Boots fit differently for men and women, so how are law enforcement boots for women designed differently from those worn by men? In this video, Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, shares all the details.
A collaboration between Motorola Solutions and T-Mobile helps deliver uninterrupted situational awareness and access to AI wherever the mission leads, enabled by satellite connectivity for Motorola Solutions' APX NEXT smart radios.
Registration is now open for the 2026 Vision FirstNet Users Summit. The Summit is an opportunity to connect with local and federal leaders, specifically the FirstNet Authority, which is hosting a track at the event this year.
Tasmanian Tiger has expanded its Modular Load-Carrying System with the new Modular Chest Rig 4xM4 and Modular Chest Rig Pack. Both provide adaptable, low-profile load options for military, law enforcement, and SWAT missions.
ZeroEyes has launched three new product categories to extend beyond firearms to address additional acute safety threats and basic security needs. Knife detection and suspect tracking are now also available.
GALLS has acquired CMS Uniforms and Equipment, Inc., a prominent regional provider based in Nashville, Tennessee. CMS Uniforms, founded in 2000, has built a reputation for delivering stellar customer service and managing complex uniform programs for more than 670 accounts.
Brinc’s new Guardian delivers 24/7 operations, Starlink connectivity, and a robotic charging nest that can swap batteries and change payload configurations without human intervention.
The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.