GLENDALE, AZ – A Glendale man is in custody after admitting to the murder of a 62-year-old woman at a local bus stop, an incident in which authorities allege he used a metal pen as a weapon.
James Marshaun Christopher Weekly, 27, was arrested following a confession regarding the fatal attack on Judy Ann Lopez, which occurred on April 28. Police say Weekly claimed he acted in self-defense, but he faces a second-degree murder charge.
Officers responded to the scene at the intersection of 83rd Avenue and Cardinals Way at approximately 9 p.m., where they discovered Lopez critically injured. Lopez was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
At a recent press briefing, Linda Lopez, the victim’s sister, expressed gratitude towards the police for their relentless effort in seeking justice despite the tragic loss. “No family should have to endure this pain,” she stated.
Detectives faced initial challenges due to the lack of direct video footage of the attack. However, surveillance from a nearby Valley Metro bus provided a crucial lead. Lopez had been seen with her cell phone on the bus, but it was missing from the crime scene.
Investigators subsequently traced the phone’s trajectory to a local neighborhood using data records. Surveillance footage from the community led them to Weekly, who was seen passing through the area following the murder.
A search of Weekly’s residence, conducted through a warrant, revealed the missing cell phone as well as clothing matching those seen on bus surveillance footage.
Weekly eventually admitted to the stabbing, saying he “poked” Lopez in the neck with the pen. Though he claimed the act resulted from a misunderstanding — asserting Lopez hit his hand, leading to the attack — Mendez noted that Weekly admitted wanting the victim to experience pain because of his own injury.
Weekly allegedly has ties to the Gangster Disciples, a gang originating in Chicago, raising questions about his motives.
Reflecting on her sister’s life, Linda Lopez described Judy as having “a great heart” and being exceedingly generous, often assisting those less fortunate in their community. She dismissed Weekly’s account of events, asserting her sister was not under any influence.
“His reasons don’t make sense,” Linda emphasized, remembering Judy as a person who “touched many lives” and calling the incident “senseless.”