SAN JACINTO COUNTY, Texas – A mass shooting in San Jacinto County overnight Friday ended with five dead, including a 9-year-old, and the suspect is believed to be the next-door neighbor of the victims.
DAY 2: New photos released of fugitive tied to murders of 5 people in a San Jacinto County home
Authorities said the suspect, 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, had been shooting his rifle in his yard, and a neighbor asked if he could stop because they had a baby that was trying to sleep inside. The sheriff’s office said the suspect told the victims he would do what he wanted.
When deputies arrived, four members of a family were found dead in the home. A fifth person, a 9-year-old child, was flown to a hospital where they later died.
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said they were able to identify Oropesa through his Mexican consulate card and a doorbell camera.
“We know him by name, date of birth. We’ve got his Mexican consulate card. Plus, there was a ring doorbell on the victim’s house that we actually captured him coming up to the front door with the weapon,” Capers said.
Capers said they have had previous calls to Oropesa’s home regarding him shooting his rifle in the yard.
“I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had a call out here, but we have researched a little bit of that. And we have found some prior history at this residence,” he said.
Capers said Oropesa had an AR15 style rifle along with at least two other weapons found inside his home. He also said they are interviewing Oropesa’s wife.
According to DPS records, Oropesa does have an arrest for DWI in 2009.
A warrant has been issued for Oropesa on five counts of murder. His bond has been set at $5 million.
On Sunday, Senator Ted Cruz tweeted that ICE is saying Oropesa was in the country illegally and had been deported before.
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— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 30, 2023
1/x ICE now telling media that this mass murderer was an illegal alien who had been previously deported.
He killed FIVE innocent people, including a child.
The corrupt corporate media will now ignore this story in three, two, one….#BidenBorderCrisis https://t.co/ty4QCqPaD2