Stephen Lovato, emergency medical technician,
killed responding to call

ROSWELL, New Mexico—Steven Lovato, 30, an emergency medical technician, was shot and killed March 16 while responding to a report of an explosion and fire at a private residence. Mr. Lovato was attempting to render aid to a burn victim who then opened fire killing Mr. Lovato and a neighbor and wounded the Roswell fire chief (who also later died) and a four-year-old girl, before killing himself.

Bruce Moot, a WCG elder from Santa Fe, New Mexico, conducted the funeral service March 20, assisted by Rick Hale of Grace Community Church. According to the Roswell Daily Record News, Mr. Moot told those attending the funeral: "I look around me and I see all the lives Steve has touched. We were all brought together by his life. Now we are brought together by his death, but don’t forget, we are here for his resurrection." The last time he saw Mr. Lovato was at a retreat the previous weekend where he was baptized. Mr. Moot told the audience: "Through faith in Jesus, death is not final.... Steven is in the arms of Jesus."

During the service, taps were sounded and then a radio call went out to Mr. Lovato’s EMT radio number that said: "One final call for Steve Lovato" and then, "negative response," followed by "Steve is now at rest with God."

"The funeral procession was several miles long and it appeared as if the whole town had shut down," said Don Lawson, district superintendent. "In places people lined the street, many at attention and some with their hands to their hearts."

Mr. Lovato is survived by his wife, Josephine; a son, Alexander, 10; parents, Lawrence and Rosie, who pastor the Roswell church; three sisters, Christy Ann Villarreal and her husband, Daniel; Lori Jean and Vicky Marie; and a niece, Erin Villarreal.

In a statement, Mr. Lovato’s family said: "Thank you for honoring our son, a wonderful daddy, husband and child of God in whom we are well-pleased. Love each other, dear ones, and take care of one another. Life is fragile and precious. Handle with prayer. Think of good things."

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2002