A Hockley man received national recognition for his quick action in stopping a school shooter during a Pasadena band competition.
On Feb. 1, during a student band competition at a Pasadena high school, an 83-year-old man entered the building armed with a pistol and opened fire, wounding one person before fleeing.
Juan F. Lopez, 42, was attending the event with his family and helping his father-in-law, who uses a motorized scooter, when he noticed the shooter approaching. Without hesitation, Lopez tackled the assailant from behind, wrestled the gun away, and held him down until others arrived to assist. The police soon took the suspect into custody; he was charged with aggravated assault but died before the case went to trial.
Despite the danger, Lopez sustained only minor knee pain and did not require medical treatment. His quick thinking and bravery prevented further harm and earned him national recognition as one of 17 individuals awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism in 2025.
The Carnegie Hero Fund, established in 1904 by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, honors civilians who risk their lives to save others. This year’s recipients include individuals from across North America who performed extraordinary acts of courage, including rescuing victims from fires, explosions, and other life-threatening situations.
Other 2025 Carnegie Medal recipients include:
- Christopher S. Copeland, Amarillo, Texas
- Brian Clemmer, Berlin, Massachusetts
- Dylan Clemmer, Berlin, Massachusetts
- Jonathan Golas, Berlin, Massachusetts
- Joshua A. Curtis, Halifax, Massachusetts
- Lance Tyler Jones, Fernandina Beach, Florida
- Melissa Bagley*, Lynn, Massachusetts (*Died in heroic act)
- Clayton E. Poindexter, St. Louis
- Mark Amoroso, St. Louis
- James Peasnall, Tooele, Utah
- William Anthony Rubio, Franklin, Kentucky
- Vincent Douglas Parr, Lawrence, Massachusetts
- James D.A. Badgley*, Picton, Ontario (*Died in heroic act)
- Joshua Chieka, Piedmont, Ohio
- Michael E. Johnson, Ligonier, Pennsylvania
- Frederick L. Palmer Jr., New Alexandria, Pennsylvania