Officials are offering $80,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man suspected to gunning down five of his neighbors — including an 8-year-old boy — when they asked him to stop shooting his rifle from his front porch Friday night.
San Jacinto County and FBI officials said on Sunday that more than 200 officers and agents are canvasing the area searching for Francisco Oropesa, 38, who fled the area after the shooting.
“We consider him armed and dangerous,” FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge James Smith said at a news conference. “He’s out there, and he’s a threat to the community.”
#BREAKING FBI Special Agent in Charge James Smith announces an additional $25,000 FBI reward regarding this investigation.
$80,000 is now being offered for information leading to the arrest of Francisco Oropesa. Call 1-800-CALL-FBI with tips. #HouNews
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) April 30, 2023
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said investigators have found discarded clothing and a phone connected with Oropesa in a rural area with dense woods, but tracking dogs lost the scent. He also said police have recovered the AR-15-style gun the suspect allegedly used in the shooting, but they don’t know if he’s carrying other weapons.
“We don’t know where he is. We have zero leads,” Capers said.
Investigators said they believe Oropesa has contacted friends for help, but they don’t know who or where.
The FBI contributed $25,000 to the reward fund, Crime Stoppers offered $5,000, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott chipping in $50,000 in state funds.
The FBI also released more pictures of Oropesa, including a snapshot of a prominent tattoo on his arm.
Police received a harassment call from the home at about 11:30 p.m. Friday, but by the time they arrived, it had morphed into a deadly shooting. Officers found four adults dead on the scene and rushed an 8-year-old boy to a hospital, where he died.
Here are the newest images of Francisco Oropesa and a prominent tattoo on his left forearm.
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
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) April 30, 2023
Five other people were in the house at the time of the shooting, and several of them were “covered in blood,” police said, but unharmed. That included three children who were shielded from the bullets by two women who were killed.
The victims were identified as Daniel Enrique Laso Guzman, 8; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Sonia Argentina Guzman,25; and Julisa Molina Rivera, 31. All the victims are reportedly from Honduras.
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said the incident began with Oropesa firing off rounds from his front porch — something he’s been warned about by deputies in the past. One of the residents of the house asked him to stop because they had a young child who was trying to sleep. Oropesa told them he could do what he wanted at his house, and, minutes later, walked up to the house with a rifle and started shooting.
Law enforcement initially spelled the suspect’s name Oropeza but have since said Oropesa is more accurate.
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[Featured image: Francisco Oropesa/FBI]