WEYMOUTH, Mass. – After six days of deliberations, a second jury has found 26-year-old Emanuel Lopes guilty of the murder of Weymouth police sergeant Michael Chesna and Weymouth resident Vera Adams in July 2018. Lopes was convicted of first-degree murder for killing Chesna and second-degree murder for killing Adams. The courtroom erupted in cheers as the guilty verdicts were read, and Chesna’s widow, Cindy Chesna, expressed relief and gratitude outside the courthouse. Lopes also faced several other charges, including assault, carrying a firearm without a license, and larceny of a firearm.
This second trial followed a mistrial last year when the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision. Jurors in the second trial also struggled to reach a verdict, wrestling with questions about Lopes’ mental health. However, the defense did not dispute that Lopes shot Chesna and Adams but argued that he was unable to mentally understand his actions due to psychosis. On the other hand, the prosecution claimed that Lopes knew exactly what he was doing.
The incident occurred when police officers were searching for Lopes, who had left the scene of a single-car crash. Lopes allegedly took Chesna’s gun and shot him after Chesna told him to stop. Chesna was struck in the head with a large stone and then shot multiple times. Adams, who was inside her home, was also struck by a bullet fired from Chesna’s gun during a foot pursuit. She tragically died as a result.
Chesna’s family expressed their gratitude for the verdict, with his mother describing it as the happiest day of her life. She also emphasized that her son was a devoted American patriot who always wanted to be a police officer. Sentencing for Lopes is scheduled for March 19.
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