Francisco Oropesa, the man suspected of killing five of his neighbors on Friday in Cleveland, Texas, is still at large and potentially armed, according to the FBI and San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office, the two agencies handling the search and investigation.
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers answers a question after a news conference, Sunday, April 30, ... [+]
Oropesa is accused of shooting to death five of his neighbors after he was asked to stop shooting a rifle in his yard because a baby was sleeping.
Oropesa was described by deputies as a Hispanic man, about 5-foot-8 who was last seen wearing jeans, a black shirt and work boots.
In a press conference on Sunday, FBI special agent-in-charge James Smith said there were “zero leads” on Oropesa’s location and that the department was “running into dead ends.”
CNN reported that investigators tracked Oropesa with his cell phone, but lost the trail Saturday evening, after which San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said: “He could be anywhere now.” They believe Oropesa was traveling on foot.
On Sunday, Capers announced a $55,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Oropesa and Smith announced an additional $25,000 FBI reward regarding this investigation, meaning $80,000 is being offered in total.
The search originally included about 150 offers, but has since grown, with FBI Houston tweeting Monday morning “there are over 250 law enforcement officers from over a dozen agencies actively searching for Oropesa. FBI Houston and other local, state, & federal agencies will not stop assisting SJSO until he is captured and justice is brought on behalf of the 5 victims.”
The victims, all from Honduras, are Daniel Enrique Laso, 8, Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18, Velazquez Alvarado, 21, Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25, and Diana Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; two of the victims were found laying over two children to protect them.
There is no scheduled press conference for updates today as the search for Oropesa continues.
At 11:30 p.m. on Friday, neighbors asked Oropesa—who Capers said had been drinking—to stop shooting his rifle. Oropesa allegedly responded that it was his property and he’d do what he wanted. Ring camera footage depicted him approaching the property where the shooting took place carrying a rifle. Oropesa—sometimes spelled Oropeza—is a Mexican citizen and married, and his wife has been cooperating with law enforcement. AP reported that deputies had been to Oropesa’s home at least once prior to this to speak with him about “shooting his gun in the yard,” which can be illegal though it’s unclear if he had ever broken the law.
Gov. Greg Abbott drew criticism after tweeting about the mass shooting and referring to the five victims as “illegal immigrants.” Reports since have said that while the victims are confirmed to be from Honduras, there hasn’t been anything said about their immigration status, the Houston Chronicle reported. To quell debates, Capers told the press: "My heart is with this nine-year-old little boy. I don't care if he was here legally. I don't care if he was here illegally. He was in my county. Five people died in my county.” The child was later confirmed to be nine years old, not eight.
Cleveland mass shooting: Survivors speak, law enforcement expands manhunt after 5 killed (Houston Chronicle)
Texas mass shooting suspect could be anywhere, sheriff says (AP)