Lonnie Love

Murder charge filed; body found May 6 identified

The identity of a body found May 6 near a mobile home on Chevy Lane off N.C. 18 South has been identified and a Sparta man has been charged with murder in relation to the incident.

The body was identified as 21-year-old Juan Jose Castro Lopez, who was killed by a gunshot wound from a small caliber firearm. Charged with murder in the incident is Lonnie Dale Love, 33, of Pine Swamp Road in Sparta. Lopez was apparently the resident of the mobile home near which his body was found by the new occupants of the home.

A second man, whose name has not been released, is also charged in the murder. Sheriff Mike Caudill said that individual's name cannot be released.

"We have identified a second individual and a warrant has been issued for his arrest pending his release from the N.C. Department of Corrections," Caudill said.

He declined to further specify the identity of the second suspect, noting only that the other suspect is male and is from Sparta, due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

The crime is alleged to have occurred on March 20, a warrant filed against Love specifies. Love was arrested on Monday. Caudill said the shooting took place near Lopez's residence.

He is being held under a $1 million bond awaiting a court appearance.

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