Texas Shooting: Suspect in Killing of 5 Neighbors Identified

Authorities are still searching for Texas shooting suspect Francisco Oropesa, who has killed five of his neighbors, including an 8-year-old child.

On Sunday morning, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Houston tweeted that the multi-agency search for the 38-year-old Mexican national is ongoing. The agency warned the public not to approach the suspect as he is armed and "dangerous," Fox News reported.

FBI Houston also asked the public to call San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office at 936-653-4367 if they see Oropesa. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said in a press conference on Saturday evening that all future updates will be coming from the FBI.

Capers noted that Oropesa "could be anywhere," adding that investigators have widened their perimeter from about five to six square miles to "as much as 10 or 20."

The sheriff said authorities found an abandoned cell phone and clothing "lying around" past two-mile of the search area. He added that tracking dogs from the Texas Department of Correction" picked up a scent" but lost it in the water.

Capers noted that Oropesa was identified by a Mexican consulate card and through a video showing him going to his neighbors' door.

Mexican National Suspect in Texas Shooting

Francisco Oropesa was armed with a black AR-15 semi-automatic rifle when he went to the victims' home in the Trails End area of Cleveland at around 11:30 p.m. on Friday and opened fire, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said the suspect allegedly shot five of his neighbors, including an 8-year-old child, in their home after one of them asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep.

His name was earlier spelled as "Oropeza" but was later corrected to "Oropesa" by the FBI Houston on Sunday. The FBI Houston tweeted that the change in spelling was "to better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems."

NBC News reported that authorities are offering an $80,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's capture. The state of Texas is offering $50,000 of the total reward money, $25,000 from the FBI, and $5,000 more from the local nonprofit organization Multi-County Crime Stoppers.

James Smith, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Houston-area office, said authorities were "running into dead ends," adding that they have "zero leads of him" right now.

Capers noted that more than 150 police officers were looking for Oropesa on Saturday, with more than 200 involved in the search on Sunday.

Aside from the FBI, other law enforcement agencies involved in the manhunt are the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Texas Public Safety Department.

Texas Shooting

Reporters earlier confronted FBI Special Agent James Smith, pointing out that the agency released a picture of a man who was not Francisco Oropesa in connection with the probe, causing a photo of the wrong individual to be used by the media, The Independent reported.

Smith explained that they are receiving information from many agencies and citizens. He admitted that it was a mistake on their side and worked quickly to have it removed.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said they continue working with state and local officials to ensure all available resources are given to the law enforcement agencies involved.

The victims are reportedly said to have come from Honduras. According to 12 News, the victims have been identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; her son Daniel Enrique Laso, 8; Josué Jonatán Cáceres, 18; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; and Julisa Molina Rivera, 31.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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