Police in Texas, US, are still looking for a man who is suspected of killing five neighbours, including an eight-year-old, in a shooting incident, which happened on Friday. The incident repeatedly took place after the neighbours asked the accused, identified by the police as Francisco Oropesa, to stop firing his rifle in his yard late at night because the noise was keeping a baby awake.
As quoted by news agencies, FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge James Smith told reporters on Sunday that they have “zero leads” right now. Officers have even offered an amount of $80,000 reward to those who will prove the authorities with information that will lead to the suspect’s apprehension.
In order to nab the 38-year-old Oropesa, over 200 law enforcement personnel were going door-to-door looking for him, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said. Capers told ABC’s Houston station KTRK: “In my opinion, they were actually trying to take care of the babies and keep them babies alive.”
Media reports have mentioned that he was apparently infuriated by the request to stop shooting his weapon as news outlets note that the “drunken gunman” stormed into the crowded house and opened fire.
According to the police, Oropesa’s name had been spelt “Oropeza” in early communications from law enforcement but the FBI said on Sunday that it was later changed “to better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems”.
As quoted by NBC News, Shawn Crawford, who is a neighbour, described the community as “family-oriented”. Crawford said he knows Oropesa and also the victims, and described the suspect as a “family guy”.
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Asa quoted, Crawford said: “He’s always working, training his horse. Never have I seen a fight, argument, raise his voice, anything.”
An arrest warrant has been issued for Oropeza and the authorities have also charged him with five counts of murder.
According to the FBI, the victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8.
In the US, incidents related to gun violence have become common and a massive concern for the government. The Gun Violence Archive stated that at least 176 incidents took place so far in 2023, the most at this point in the year since at least 2016.
(With inputs from agencies)
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