Fort Bragg soldier dies after bar fight in Steamboat Springs
By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 6, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.
A soldier assigned to a special forces unit at Fort Bragg, N.C., died Monday morning in Denver from injuries suffered during a weekend bar fight in Steamboat Springs over a Jimmy Buffett song.
Richard Lopez, 37, of Fayetteville, N.C., was pronounced dead at 4:16 a.m. at Denver Health Medical Center. An autopsy by the Arapahoe County coroner's office is scheduled for today.
No arrests have been made, although police have talked to two people involved in the Friday fight.
"We know where they are, and they have been interviewed," said Capt. Joel Rae, of the Steamboat Springs police.
The case is being investigated as a homicide.
The incident occurred before 12:15 a.m. Friday, when police were called to a fight involving five people outside the Tap House.
"The initial disagreement was about music being played on the jukebox," said Rae, who added that it was a Jimmy Buffett song.
"Richard Lopez and two other individuals put on the song, but two other individuals did not agree with it."
By the time officers arrived on scene, the fight was over and Lopez was on the ground at Lincoln Avenue and Seventh Street.
Two of Lopez's friends, who were not identified by police but are from Steamboat Springs, also were injured in the fight.
Lopez initially was taken to Yampa Valley Medical Center but later was flown to Denver Health Medical Center.
Rae said all three were on leave from the military - Lopez and one of his friends were with the Army and the other friend was in the Navy.
An official at Fort Bragg said Lopez was part of a special forces unit. Details about his service were not available.
Rae said the case is under investigation.
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