Rapides Parish, Louisiana - The Forest Hill Police Department received a report of a potential hit and run with injuries on Thelma Drive in Forest Hill, Louisiana on October 22, 2023.

When the officer arrived, Acadian Ambulance was already there, assisting a male named Clemente Cruz with medical treatment.

The injured person was taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention, and Chief Glynn Dixon of Forest Hill asked for assistance from (Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office) RPSO in conducting the investigation.

While collaborating on the investigation, the detectives concluded that the injuries were not caused by a hit-and-run crash, but rather suggested a potential physical altercation.

During the ongoing investigation, Herson Lopez, a 27-year-old individual from Honduras who immigrated to the country, was identified as a potential suspect.

Detectives were informed by the Rapides Parish Coroner's Office on October 24, 2023, that the victim had passed away due to injuries sustained in the incident.

Because of the serious harm incurred by the victim, an autopsy was requested to establish the reason for their death. Initial pathology findings showed that the injuries sustained by the victim did not match those typically caused by a vehicle crash, but instead resulted from blunt force trauma to the head.

The Sheriff's Detectives gathered enough evidence to support the issuance of an arrest warrant for Herson Caballero Lopez on a charge of Second Degree Murder with the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office, Criminal Investigation Division at 318-473-6727 or Crime Stoppers at 318-443-7867.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.