The Valley mourns again (update)

 

Senseless murder of young officer

Two suspects, Edward James Rose, 20, and Norma Lisa Lopez, 19, are facing the death penalty in the senseless Friday night night shooting death of officer George Cortez  The 23 year-old, two-year veteran of the Phoenix Police force had responded to a call regarding a suspected forgery, when he was gunned down at a check cashing store in West Phoenix.

The married father of two young children was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

Rose and his girlfriend, Lopez, were formally charged Saturday with first degree murder, burglary and forgery. Maricopa County Superior Court records indicate that an arrest warrant for Rose and an accompanying petition for probation revocation in an earlier criminal case, were issued the day before the shooting.