On April 28, 2023, a
mass shooting occurred northwest of
Cleveland in
San Jacinto County, Texas, United States,[2][3] resulting in the deaths of five people, including a nine-year-old boy.[4] The alleged perpetrator was a neighbor, who was captured on May 2 after a four-day manhunt.[5]
Shooting
The incident took place on April 28, 2023 at approximately 11:31 p.m.
CDT, following a call made to the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office in
East Texas regarding harassment. At least 10 people were present at the location of the incident,[a] which was situated 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of the town of Cleveland, 45 miles (72 km) northeast of central
Houston.[2][1][10]
According to police reports, the suspect was asked by a neighbor, whose baby was trying to sleep, to stop firing his
AR-15 rifle in his yard. The suspect allegedly refused, stating that it was his yard. The neighbor then warned the suspect that he would call the police. The suspect subsequently retrieved the rifle from his home, entered the neighbor's residence, and began shooting. Four of the victims died at the scene, while the nine-year-old boy was transported to a hospital by a fire department ambulance, where he was later pronounced dead.[9] Three other minors were found covered in blood but were physically unharmed and were transported to a hospital.[1][7]
Following the shooting, a manhunt was launched to capture the suspect, who was identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza (born 1985). The authorities discovered a Mexican consulate card and footage from a
Ring doorbell camera to identify him.[10] The Houston field office of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was involved in the search, and a judge issued an arrest warrant for Oropeza with a $5 million bond. The police believed that he had fled the scene on foot or by bicycle. Initially, the search radius was limited to 2-mile (3.2 km)[1] but was later expanded to at least 10 mi (16 km) away.[11] To help in the arrest of the suspect, a reward of $80,000 was offered,[4][12] which increased to $100,000 prior to the suspect being arrested.[13][14]
Initially, an FBI release had incorrect details, including a different spelling of Oropeza's name and a photo of an unrelated person. However, it was later updated with the correct information. Oropeza is a Mexican national who was born and raised in
Mexico. According to
ABC News, he had been deported from the United States back to Mexico four times between March 2009 and July 2016. Previously, he lived in
Montgomery County. Since 2020, Oropeza had been living in Cleveland,[15] where he had a history of shooting outside in his yard. He also had a prior arrest record, mainly for
DWI, according to records from the
Texas Department of Public Safety.[16]
On May 1, the suspect was briefly spotted on foot near
Texas State Highway 105,[14] causing schools in the area to be closed.[17] On May 2, Oropeza was found in
Cut and Shoot, Texas, 6 miles (9.7 km) east of
Conroe and 18 miles (29 km) away from the scene of the shooting.[5] The authorities found him hiding in a closet underneath someone's laundry in a house associated with one of his family members. They received a tip through the FBI's tip line at 5:15 p.m. CDT, and he was apprehended at 6:30 p.m. CDT.[18] U.S. Marshals, Texas Department of Public Safety, and
BORTAC apprehended him.[19]
Shortly after Oropeza's arrest, Oropeza's wife, 53-year-old Divimara Lamar Nava (born August 1970), was taken into custody without incident in connection with the shooting at the arrest scene.[20] Police believe Nava provided Oropeza with food and clothes during the manhunt, as well as allegedly plotting an escape to Mexico with Oropeza.[21][22]
Victims
The five people who died were all
Honduran citizens and have been identified as Sonia Argentina Guzmán (25), Diana Velázquez Alvarado (21), Julisa Molina Rivera (31), José Jonathan Casárez (18), and Daniel Enrique Laso-Guzmán (9).[4]
Texas GovernorGreg Abbott faced criticism for referring to the victims as "
illegal immigrants," which was widely perceived as insensitive since authorities had not officially disclosed their immigration status.[23] The husband of one of the victims stated that his wife was a
permanent resident of the United States.[24]
^The Sheriff's Office has said that there were 10 people at the home,[6] a relative of one of those at the house said that there were 12 people,[7] the
Associated Press has reported 15 people,[8] and the
Houston Chronicle has reported 16 people.[9]