Judge Dismisses Manslaughter Charge Against Ex-Greensboro Officer Matthew Hamilton

A Guilford County Superior Court judge dismissed the manslaughter charge against former Greensboro Police Department officer Matthew Edward Hamilton on Jan. 30, 2026, removing the criminal accusation that grew from a Nov. 19, 2021, on-duty shooting that killed 29-year-old Joseph Thomas Lee Lopez.

Hamilton had been indicted by a Guilford County grand jury on June 6, 2022, and was fired by the city effective that same day. Court records show that "Hamilton’s manslaughter charge in connection with Lopez’s death was dismissed by the court with no plea agreement." The case had advanced to trial: jury selection began Jan. 12, 2026, and had drawn a large pool of potential witnesses and intense local attention.

The shooting occurred at a backyard structure behind 3504 Cloverdale Drive in north Greensboro. Civil court filings and body-worn camera descriptions say officers found Lopez seated in a small room behind two couches. Body-worn camera audio quoted in filings captures Hamilton announcing, "Greensboro police! If you’re in there, make yourself known!" and Lopez replying, "Yes, I’m here." Hamilton is reported to have warned, "Come on out with your hands up or I’ll send my dog in there and he’ll bit you." Prosecutors indicted Hamilton under NCGS 14-18 for manslaughter; a DA memo emphasized that "The indictment means that the grand jury found probable cause to support the crime alleged. However, even after an indictment a person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty."

Pretrial weeks were contentious. Judge David Hall presided over jury selection and said more than 100 witnesses could be called, including personnel from the Greensboro Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. Jury selection narrowed an initial pool from 40 to 17 on the first day, with potential jurors told they must be available for a three-week trial. The courtroom drew a packed public gallery, and defense lawyers unsuccessfully sought a venue change and continuance, citing protests outside the courthouse and health concerns.

A discovery dispute during the criminal proceedings raised questions about whether prosecutors had disclosed information suggesting Lopez had claimed ties to MS-13; the judge instructed jurors that any gang affiliation could be considered only if there was evidence Hamilton knew of those claims at the time of the shooting. A Greensboro narcotics officer testified about prior conversations with Lopez and the possibility of using Lopez as an informant.

Separately, a federal civil rights lawsuit against Hamilton and the City of Greensboro continues. A U.S. District judge denied Hamilton’s motion to dismiss the civil suit, rejecting a qualified-immunity defense; Hamilton’s attorney Amiel Rossabi said he was "not happy at all with the decision." The civil complaint accuses the city of failing to train and supervise officers and alleges a pattern of excessive force.

For Guilford County residents, the dismissal removes criminal jeopardy for Hamilton but does not end questions about police tactics, training, and accountability that families and community advocates have raised. The civil case and public calls for transparency remain, and court dockets and city files are likely the next places for those seeking fuller explanations and any policy changes.