Francisco Oropesa: Authorities offer $80K for information about suspected Texas shooter who killed 5
CLEVELAND, TEXAS: Southeast Texas authorities are offering an $80,000 reward for information that leads to the capture of Francisco Oropesa. The 38-year-old Oropesa reportedly fatally shot five individuals inside a home on Friday, April 28, then fled the scene.
Police stated they had no information on Oropesa's whereabouts but that more than 250 officers were working to find him during a press conference on Sunday afternoon, April 30. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers stated that officers are searching houses door to door for the suspect, who has a large tattoo of what looks to be a woman on his left forearm. Authorities changed the spelling of his name from Oropeza to better reflect "his identity in law enforcement systems," according to NPR.
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'Right now we're running into dead ends'
FBI Houston special agent in charge James Smith stated, "We're asking everyone for your help so we can bring this suspect — or this monster, I will call him — to justice." Smith stated that neither Oropesa's whereabouts nor his current whereabouts were known to the investigators. "Right now we're running into dead ends," he said.
Here are the newest images of Francisco Oropesa and a prominent tattoo on his left forearm.
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) April 30, 2023
Going forward, the subject's last name will be spelled "Oropesa" to better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems. This remains a fluid investigation. #ClevelandTXShooting pic.twitter.com/ZWUu0FqoMF
Capers added that authorities were making huge posters-sized notices to alert the neighborhood that Oropesa is wanted by police and the fact that there is a reward for information leading to his location. The shooting claimed the lives of five people, including an 8-year-old boy.
'My heart is with this eight-year old little boy'
Capers reported that a vigil was scheduled for the youngster, Daniel Enrique Laso Guzman, on Sunday, April 30 in the evening. He said, "My heart is with this eight-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, and that is where my heart is — in my county protecting my people to the best of our ability."
Cleveland, a community of 8,000 inhabitants about 45 miles northeast of Houston, is where the shooting took place. US Census figures state that Cleveland's population is 60% WHITE and 30% Hispanic or Latino, according to NPR. On Saturday, April 29, Capers stated that Oropesa is from Mexico and that all of the victims were originally from Honduras.