Background: The Kettle Inn in Altoona, Pennsylvania (Google Maps). Inset: Corey Lopez (Altoona Police Department).
A Pennsylvania man is facing serious charges after allegedly delivering a punch that proved fatal to his girlfriend’s uncle following a confrontation outside a local tavern.
Corey Lopez, aged 34, has been charged with several offenses, including criminal homicide and aggravated assault, as well as simple assault, reckless endangerment, obstruction of justice, and resisting arrest. The Altoona Police Department apprehended him early Sunday morning after the altercation escalated into violence.
The incident began around 1 a.m. at the Kettle Inn, where Lopez was present with his girlfriend. Also at the scene was James Dunn, 41, the girlfriend’s uncle, along with his spouse, as reported by local CBS affiliate WTAJ. A dispute reportedly ignited between the two women.
Lopez came out of the bar to discover his girlfriend entangled in a brawl with Dunn’s wife, while Dunn and another individual attempted to intervene. Undeterred, Lopez allegedly charged in, prepared to fight, despite bystanders’ efforts to diffuse the situation, according to police accounts.
In an attempt to deter Lopez, Dunn allegedly fired a gunshot into the air, WTAJ reported. However, Lopez was reportedly not intimidated. Dunn’s wife recounted Lopez challenging Dunn with the words, “I want some of you big boy.”
The confrontation escalated, involving several other individuals. Police stated that Lopez, a local boxer, delivered a forceful punch to Dunn, causing him to collapse and lose consciousness. Both men ended up on the ground as a result of the blow.
Police, citing surveillance footage and witnesses’ accounts, said Lopez rose to his feet, but Dunn remained on the ground in the middle of the road. The suspect then allegedly kicked the motionless man. As officers arrived at the scene, they found Lopez sitting in the parking lot of a deli across the street, while Dunn was immobile.
Dunn was brought to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Officers said they broke up the fight, and when they tried to speak with Lopez, “he shoved an Officer and was taken into custody.” A booking photo released by the Altoona Police Department shows the suspect with a bandaged right hand and slight cuts to his face.
Lopez reportedly claimed he did not remember hitting Dunn because he had been drinking that night and that he was only trying to protect himself and his girlfriend.
Altoona is located in central Pennsylvania, about 95 miles east of Pittsburgh.
