Murder Defendant Subject to Negotiations with El Salvador

By Justine Stuber [former] - October 23, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Domestic Violence | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects |

On Oct. 20, homicide defendant Marvin Lopez in a trial readiness hearing DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe addressed rejected plea offers and pending motions. 

Lopez, 43, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Evelyn Arroyo on Dec. 24, 2014, on the 3900 block of 14th street, NW. 

According to prosecutors, the two had been involved in a romantic relationship that had been ended by Arroyo approximately two weeks before the murder. 

According to court documents, after the shooting, Lopez fled to El Salvador and remained a fugitive until he was extradited in early 2023. 

Negotiations have been underway between the U.S. and El Salvador to extradite Lopez, including an agreement not to impose the death penalty, which is not an option in the District.

Salvadoran officials requested that he receive 20-to-30 years for the murder, matching the sentencing guidelines there. However, Judge O’Keefe expressed he is not obligated to follow the request. 

During the hearing, the prosecution alleged Lopez had stolen Arroyo’s car keys and phone shortly before she was killed. They also said he allegedly sent threatening messages to the victim, such as “If you break up with me, I will kill you,” along with posting photos of bullets on his Facebook page. 

According to Arroyo’s roommate, she had allegedly hidden Lopez’s gun in order to protect herself. 

The prosecution had offered Lopez two separate plea deals, each of which he rejected. The first required he plead guilty to  second-degree murder in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges, with an agreed sentencing of 12-to-24 years. They then offered a deal requiring him to plead guilty to  second-degree murder in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges, with a maximum sentence of 20 years incarceration, which was also rejected by Lopez. 

Defense attorneys Rachel McCoy and Justin Okezie had previously filed multiple motions to suppress evidence, which were addressed in court. 

According to defense attorneys,  during the investigation, police asked one of the witnesses to identify Lopez, but did not show the witness a picture lineup and instead only asked them to “confirm” Lopez’s identity by showing a single picture of the defendant. 

The defendant and the witness had previously worked together at a restaurant, but the defense argued the witness did not know Lopez well enough to identify him based on one photograph. The defense also wanted to suppress a portion of the allegedly threatening messages sent to the victim, claiming that presenting each individual threat as evidence is unnecessary. 

Another motion was filed to prevent the testimony of a domestic violence expert, with attorneys claiming it is irrelevant to whether or not Lopez was the one who killed Arroyo. The prosecution argued that the expert was essential to understanding the victim’s mindset and why she continued to stay in the relationship. 

Due to time constraints, Judge O’Keefe was unable to decide on the motions, and will make a ruling in the upcoming days. 

Lopez’s trial is set to start Oct. 30.