FBI Houston/Twitter Francisco Oropesa.
Francisco Oropesa is the suspect accused of shooting five neighbors, including a young child, to death in an active shooter incident in Cleveland, Texas, on April 28, 2023. Authorities initially identified him as Francisco Oropeza, but said on April 30 that his name is spelled as Oropesa in law enforcement databases.
Oropesa, 39, is a Mexican national, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers told Fox News Digital. The FBI said on April 30, “The multi-agency search for suspect Francisco Oropesa continues this morning. Reminder, if you see him DO NOT approach him. He is armed and dangerous. If you have a tip about his whereabouts call the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office at 936-653-4367.”
The FBI also tweeted, “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.”
He was described as last wearing “jeans, a black shirt, and work boots. Investigators said he has a goatee and short black hair,” ABC 13 reported.
“San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office Investigators are currently investigating a mass shooter incident in the 100 block of Walters Road in the Trails End area of Cleveland,” the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Department wrote in a news release on April 29, 2023.
Here’s what you need to know about Francisco Oropesa:
1. Deputies Responded to a ‘Harassment Complaint’ & Discovered Multiple Victims Deceased After a Victim Asked Francisco Oropesa to Stop Shooting His Rifle, Reports Say
According to Fox News, the victims are Oropesa’s neighbors and were shot “after one of them asked him to stop shooting his rifle late Friday, saying that a baby was trying to sleep.” The suspect used an AR-15, according to ABC 13.
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said in a press conference that the suspect “has been known to shoot” his rifle “out in the front yard which is evident” from the shell casings that are laying in the front yard.”
The victims came over to the suspect’s fence, and one said, “Hey, could you mind not shooting out in the yard. We have a young baby that is trying to go sleep,” Capers told CNN. The suspect, who “had been drinking,” then said, “I’ll do what I want to in my front yard,” according to what Capers told CNN.
According to the press release, night shift patrol deputies “were dispatched to a residence in reference to an harassment complaint. While enroute, the communications center received multiple 911 calls of an active shooter incident at the dispatch location.”
Multiple deputies arrived at the residence “and located multiple victims deceased” inside “and several others in critical condition from multiple gunshot wounds,” the release says.
“Allegiance Mobile Health arrived and requested an air medical helicopter to fly a pediatric patient to a local trauma center,” the release says.
2. Francisco Oropesa Is Accused of Shooting the Victims in the Head as Some of Them Shielded Young Children With Their Bodies
According to Fox News, Oropesa is accused of walking up to the “front door of his neighbor’s house and began firing.”
“All of the victims were from Honduras,” Capers said in the press conference.
Capers said that deputies found a female at the front door, another victim inside the front door, a male victim inside the living room, and two victims inside the bedroom.
There were 10 people in the house, he said. “When we got here, the two females in the bedroom were actually laying over the top of two of the three younger children,” Capers said in the press conference. He said those children survived.
He said there were one male and three females among the victims.
The sheriff told Fox that the victims were shot in the head, and he told ABC 13 the shootings were “almost execution style.”
According to the sheriff’s news release, Montgomery County SWAT “arrived to assist and cleared several properties adjacent to the crime scene and determined that the shooter had fled the county.”
3. The Victims, Some of Whom Had Recently Moved From Houston, Include an 8-Year-Old Child
Capers said in the press conference that “five people were shot and are now deceased.” The ages of the victims range from about 8 to 40, he said.
Capers told ABC 13 that some of the victims recently moved to the home from Houston, but he wasn’t sure whether they were planning to stay.
At this time, according to the sheriff’s release, “there are four people confirmed deceased inside of the residence. It was reported that the 8 year old child was pronounced deceased at the hospital.”
According to the sheriff, three other patients were transported to the hospital. “Their status is not known at this time. There were two additional people inside the residence that were evaluated on scene and released,” the release says.
“The identities of the persons involved are not being released at this time pending notification of the next of kin,” the release says.
“This is still a very fluid scene and an active investigation. The Texas Rangers are currently on scene aiding with the investigation,” it adds.
4. The Suspect, Who Is From Mexico, Is Accused of Having a Cache of Firearms
According to Fox News, authorities confiscated “a shotgun, two rifles, including the .223 caliber rifle, and a pistol from the victims’ residence.”
Capers said in the news conference that the suspect was a “male from Mexico. We do have a copy of his consulate card.”
“Judge Wells has issued an arrest warrant for the suspect and assigned a $5 million dollar bond,” the sheriff wrote in the news release.
“More information will be released as details become available. Please avoid the area, as there is still a heavy police presence,” the release says.
5. Francisco Oropesa Was Previously Warned About Shooting His Rifle in His Yard, Reports Say
Capers told ABC 13 that “deputies have come over and spoke with him about him shooting his gun in the yard,” referring to the suspect.
The FBI tweeted, “The FBI is assisting the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office in the search for the suspect from this morning’s shooting in Cleveland, TX. All questions regarding the investigation should be directed to the San Jacinto County SO as it remains the lead investigative agency #HouNews.”
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