After Texas shooting that claimed 5 victims, massive manhunt for killer continues
The intensive hunt for the man accused of killing five people in a Texas home last week entered its fourth day Tuesday as controversy heated up over the immigration status of the victims and the suspect.
More than 250 law enforcement officers from local and state agencies, the FBI and U.S. Marshals −armed with everything from high-tech drones and scent-tracking dogs to $80,000 in reward money − have been pursuing the suspect since the assault Friday night in the San Jacinto County town of Cleveland, 45 miles north of Houston.
Tips have mostly proved fruitless, and on Monday, police swarmed a location in neighboring Montgomery County after a possible sighting, but the sheriff’s office later said the suspect was not found.
Developments:
∙ The suspect, Francisco Oropeza, 38, had been deported four times since 2009, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said. Although the gun used in the shooting was found, the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous, authorities said.
A spokesman for Gov. Greg Abbott walked back an earlier statement claiming the victims were all in the U.S. illegally.
Tipster said Hispanic male resembled killer
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said the tip it received claimed a Hispanic male resembling Oropeza was seen walking near near a local creek. Six local schools were "secured," the office said in a Facebook post, and the woods and surrounding areas were searched by deputies, K9-Units and air units.
"All persons in the area were investigated, and none were found to be Oropeza," the post said.
Abbott releases statement on immigration status of victims
Abbot, who released a statement after the shooting saying the victims were all in the U.S. illegally, issued an update Monday. He said state and federal officials had provided the information − and that it may not be correct.
"We've since learned that at least one of the victims may have been in the United States legally," the second statement said. "We regret if the information was incorrect and detracted from the important goal of finding and arresting the criminal."
Abbott draws scorn from victim's kin
The victims were identified as Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 9.
Jefrinson Josué Rivera, the longtime partner of Velazquez Alvarado, said she was a lawful resident, calling Abbott "inhumane" for his description of the victims, all from Honduras.
"Why do they discriminate against immigrants so much? In what way are we affecting him?'' Rivera asked, referring to Abbott. "What harm have we caused him? He's making his living, and we're here to make our own. We don't care if he wants to make his money through politics, we're here to make an honorable living."
How the shooting happened
The manhunt began after Oropeza opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle just before midnight Friday, police say Before the shooting, Wilson Garcia said he asked his neighbor to stop shooting his gun because Garcia's 1-month-old son was sleeping. The family called police five times, according to the Associated Press.
Authorities said they believed the suspect initially fled the area on foot. Police were able to identify Oropeza based on a Mexican identity card and doorbell camera footage, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said. Law enforcement set up a perimeter and found clothes and a cellphone in the area around the home, which includes a dense forest, according to Capers.