Crime
5 Latino victims murdered in Texas identified as suspect remains at large
The authorities reported that they were able to identify Francisco Oropeza through his card from the Mexican consulate and a camera footage
May 1, 2023 1:17am
Updated: May 1, 2023 1:17am
The FBI has identified the five Honduran victims shot to death this Friday in San Jacinto County, Texas residential home "execution style" with an AR-15 style rifle.
Police previously said the tragic incident occurred at 11:31 p.m. local time on Friday when the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office received a report about harassment in the small town of Cleveland, about 55 miles north of Houston.
When police arrived at the residence, they discovered several victims shot, authorities said. Three of those killed were females and two were males, the youngest being an 8-year-old boy.
Two female victims were found in the bedroom lying on top of two surviving children, police told ABC News on Saturday.
The national news network reported that three minors were located uninjured, but drenched in blood. They were taken to a local hospital.
The names of the victims, now released by the FBI are: Sonia Argentina Guzmán, 25 years old; Diana Velázquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; José Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso Guzmán, 8. Enrique was airlifted to a hospital where he later died.
New reports indicate that a suspect, Francisco Oropeza, 39, allegedly entered the family's home and shot them after they asked him to stop firing his gun in the backyard.
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said they were able to identify Oropeza through his Mexican consulate card and a camera.
“We know him by his name and date of birth. We have his card from the Mexican consulate. In addition, there was a camera at the door of the victims' house and we captured him coming to the front door with the weapon," Capers said.
The sheriff said police previously received multiple calls about Oropeza firing his rifle in the backyard.
“I can't tell you how many times we've gotten a call, but we've investigated and found previous stories at these residences,” he said. Capers said the suspect had an AR-15 rifle and two other weapons found inside his home.
A warrant has been issued for Oropeza's arrest on five counts of murder. His bail has been set at $5 million.