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Texas Shooting: Massacre Suspect Deported Four Times

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In a shocking and tragic turn of events, the man responsible for a deadly shooting spree in the small town of Cleveland, San Jacinto County, Texas, has been identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, a Mexican national who has been deported from the United States at least four times. The devastating incident, which left five of his neighbors dead, including a young child, has left the community reeling and searching for answers.

According to US media reports, Francisco Oropeza had previously been deported twice in 2009, and again in 2012 and 2016. Despite these deportations and a history of criminal activity, Oropeza managed to return to the United States and reside in the tight-knit community of Cleveland, Texas. The events leading up to the tragic shooting began with an argument over Oropeza’s practice-shooting with a semi-automatic weapon near his home.

A survivor of the horrific attack, Wilson Garcia, tearfully recounted the details of the tragic day during a vigil held in Texas on Sunday. Garcia explained that the noise from Oropeza’s gunfire caused his one-month-old son to cry, prompting him and two others to approach their neighbor and respectfully ask him to move further away so the infant could sleep. Oropeza, however, was unyielding, asserting that he was on his property and could do as he pleased.

In a desperate attempt to ensure their safety, Wilson Garcia called the police five times, but help never arrived. Instead, he witnessed Oropeza running towards his home, reloading his semi-automatic weapon. In a gut-wrenching turn of events, Garcia’s wife, Sonia Argentina Guzman, believed that Oropeza would not shoot at a woman and told her husband to go inside their home. Tragically, she was the first victim as Oropeza opened fire on the residence.

During the shooting, there were 15 individuals present in the residence, many of whom were reportedly attending a church retreat. Daniel Enrique Laso, Mr Garcia’s nine-year-old son, and two women who were shielding Mr Garcia’s infant and two-year-old daughter were among the deceased. According to Mr Garcia, one of the women urged him to leap out of a window in order to safeguard his surviving children.

All of the victims, including Diana Velazquez Alvarado (21), Julisa Molina Rivera (31), and Jose Jonathan Casarez (18), were from Honduras. Mr Garcia expressed his shock at the tragedy, stating that he had no words to describe it and that it was as if they were still alive but dead at the same time.

Three children who were hurt during the incident and transported to the hospital were discharged on Sunday, according to the Houston Chronicle. The perpetrator is still at large and should be regarded as dangerous and armed, according to police.

Texas Governor Gregg Abbott, the FBI, and local authorities have jointly provided an $80,000 (£64,000) reward for information leading to Mr Oropeza’s arrest. CNN reported that at least three weapons were discovered in the suspect’s residence, according to San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers.

FBI special agent James Smith informed journalists that they have no leads and do not know where the perpetrator is. They are presently at a dead end with no hints as to his whereabouts.

After the shooting incident, a group of more than 150 officers assembled in a wooded area close to the location where Mr Oropeza was initially believed to have escaped on foot. They discovered clothes and a phone during their search. 

Although tracking dogs were unable to locate the suspect, the search continued on Sunday with the involvement of over 200 officers. When questioned about the response time to Mr Garcia’s calls for assistance, the spokesperson for the law enforcement stated that officers arrived as quickly as possible, though only three officers were patrolling hundreds of square miles. 

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, firearm incidents are the primary cause of death among American children and teenagers.

Following the incident, Honduras’ foreign minister, Enrique Reina, took to Twitter to demand that the perpetrators be brought to justice. This incident took place shortly after a shooting at a teenage party in eastern Texas, which injured nine people, and another incident two weeks earlier in Alabama, where four young people were shot dead during a 16th birthday party. 

Stay tuned to Texas News for the latest updates on this developing story, and remember, if you have any information that could lead to the capture of Francisco Oropeza, please contact your local authorities immediately. Browse through our list of stories today for more Texas news!

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