The distraught relatives of a murdered police officer watched terrifying bodycam footage as he was shot dead in court.
Video footage shown at the sentencing hearing for accused killer Michael Lopez, 44, showed Melvindale Police Chief Mohamed Said begging for his life.
“Stop running, stop, help help, I’m leaving it,” Said can be heard saying in the July footage. Media were asked to use only audio from the bodycam footage.
“He told him not to shoot him, ‘I’ll let you go, I’ll let you go, don’t shoot,’” said the victim’s brother, Ahmed Said. Fox News after the trial.
Ahmed burst into tears in the courtroom as he watched the shocking images. He was clearly in panic and had his head in his hands as the sound of the gunshot echoed through the courtroom.
Ahmed Said broke down in tears in court as he watched the harrowing footage of his brother’s final moments. He was clearly panicking and had his head in his hands as the sound of the gunshot echoed through the court.
Melvindale Police Corporal Mohamed Said (pictured) was shown pleading for his life in disturbing footage shown during the trial of accused killer Michael Lopez, 44
Michael Lopez (pictured in court), 44, now faces murder, weapons and drug charges
Said was responding to a suspicious person call when he was confronted by Lopez, who now faces charges of murder, weapons possession and drug possession.
Ahmed is demanding the harshest possible punishment for his brother’s alleged killer.
Ahmed described Lopez’s demeanor in court this way: “He was just relaxed.
“He was laughing with a man standing next to him. It’s like he never did anything. He deserves the death penalty – so he feels the same pain.”
Michigan State Police Detective Brittany Ellsworth said Lopez has admitted to the killing.
“He later admitted that he had run from him,” Ellsworth said.
“The officer tasered him, he shot him, he wanted to shoot him on purpose, because he didn’t want to go back to jail. Then he fled.”
Ahmed broke down in tears in court as he saw the shocking images, clearly in distress with his head in his hands as the sound of gunfire echoed through the court
Ahmed (pictured) calls for the harshest possible punishment for his brother’s alleged killer
Melvindale Police Corporal Mohamed Said (pictured right) was shown pleading for his life in disturbing footage shown during the trial of suspected killer Michael Lopez
Ahmed calls for tougher punishments for criminals who kill police officers.
“Okay, if I kill a cop, I’ll just go to jail, with free rent and free food,” he told Fox News.
“People are used to prison sentences, but when you implement the death penalty, everyone becomes afraid.”
Ahmed says he listens to his brother’s last words on the radio every night before going to sleep.
“My brother was the heart of the family,” he told Fox News. “He was murdered and we lost the heart. Right now we’re living without a heart.”
Mohamed Said was one of three police officers killed in just one month this summer.
Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Deputy William Butler was killed on June 27, and Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Bradley Reckling died on June 22.
Michigan State Police Det. Sgt. Brittany Ellsworth said Lopez (pictured) has admitted to the killing