Francisco Oropesa, aged 38, is believed to have killed five neighbors ranging in age from eight to 31 by shooting them.
Texas law enforcement officials have apprehended a man who allegedly murdered five of his neighbors after they requested him to cease shooting his rifle in his yard. The suspect was captured following a manhunt that commenced last week.
Authorities had been unable to capture Francisco Oropesa, the alleged perpetrator, since the mass shooting in the small town of Cleveland in southeastern Texas on Friday.
Sheriff Greg Capers informed the press during a news conference on Tuesday night that the man is now under our custody.
“He was caught hiding in a closet underneath some laundry.”
The Mexican citizen, aged 38, reportedly fired at his neighbors when they requested him to cease firing his semiautomatic rifle as it was disturbing a baby’s sleep.
Several residents, ranging in age from eight to 31, were victims of the incident. Additionally, there are multiple residents in critical condition due to gunshot wounds.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers were dispatched by authorities to search for the suspect. Additionally, a reward of $80,000 was offered for any information that could lead to his arrest.
FBI special agent Jimmy Paul informed the media that a phone call to the bureau’s tip line eventually resulted in the arrest of Oropesa, who was apprehended north of Houston around 6:45pm (23:45 GMT) on Tuesday.
He expressed his gratitude to the person who had the courage and bravery to report the suspect’s whereabouts.
On the night of April 28, a terrible incident occurred. The suspect forcefully entered his neighbor’s house and started shooting, resulting in the deaths of five individuals, including an eight-year-old boy.
According to authorities, the individuals who were shot in the head were mostly from Honduras and residing there, but not all of them were related.
Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8 were the names of the victims.