Texas shooting leaves 5 dead, including 8-year-old; manhunt underway
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers described the shooting near Cleveland, Texas, where a suspect described as a Mexican male shot and killed five people, including an eight-year-old boy. (KTRK)
The FBI in Houston released new photos of a fugitive who allegedly killed five people Friday night in an execution-style mass shooting.
A manhunt continued Sunday afternoon, more than 24 hours after Francisco Oropesa, 38, allegedly shot five of his neighbors in their home, including an 8-year-old boy in Cleveland, Texas.
Oropesa is in the country illegally and has been deported previously, an ICE source told Fox News Digital. He has re-entered the U.S. illegally "multiple" times and ICE last encountered him in 2016, the source said.
The four new photos included three of Oropesa’s face and one of a large tattoo of a woman wearing a headdress on one of his arms.
MEXICAN NATIONAL WANTED IN DEADLY TEXAS SHOOTING OF 5 NEIGHBORS ‘COULD BE ANYWHERE,’ SHERIFF SAYS
The FBI relapsed new photos of fugitive Francisco Oropesa on Sunday, including a prominent tattoo on his arm. (FBI Houston)
FBI Houston said it would spell his name "Oropesa" rather than "Oropeza" going forward, as it had done on Saturday "to better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems. This remains a fluid investigation."
In a Sunday afternoon press conference, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers and FBI Houston Special agent in charge James Smith announced there is an $80,000 reward from the governor's office, state agencies and the FBI for tips leading to an arrest.
"We do not know where he is that’s why we’ve come up with this reward," Smith told reporters, adding there's he's sure Oropesa has contacted friends, they just need to find out who. "We have zero leads," he added.
Capers told reporters, "My main intent and focus is 100% on capturing this suspect." He said there now more than 200 law enforcement officials searching for Oropesa.
In an earlier tweet Sunday, the FBI said, "The multi-agency search for suspect Francisco Oropeza 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."
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press" Sunday that he wouldn’t "comment" on Oropesa’s immigration status – he is a Mexico national – after Todd said there was a question about him having a "consulate card, meaning he was here legally, but perhaps he had overstayed?"
Mayorkas replied, "I won’t comment on it because it is an active case. The tragedy that occurred is … just absolutely horrific."
"He could be anywhere now," Capers said Saturday night, adding that investigators have widened their perimeter from about 5 or 6 square miles to "as much as 10 or 20 depending on whether or not he crossed the highline wire."
Authorities found an abandoned cell phone and articles of clothing lying around, and tracking dogs from the Texas Department of Correction "picked up a scent and then … lost that scent in the water," according to the sheriff.
TEXAS SHOOTING: SUSPECT ACCUSED OF KILLING 5 NEIGHBORS AFTER REQUEST TO STOP FIRING RIFLE
The victims have been identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Daniel Enrique Laso Guzman, 8; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; and Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18.
Oropesa allegedly shot the victims after one them asked him to stop firing off rounds outside his home just before midnight. They were all shot "from the neck up," in their home, Capers said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Capers said there were 10 people in the house, including three children who weren't hurt — some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week — but that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them.
A criminal history search uncovered at least one DUI charge from 2009 to a man of the same name and age. Capers said deputies had been called to Oropesa's home at least once before about "shooting his gun in the yard," which isn't necessarily illegal if a person is firing on their own property.
Fox News' Danielle Wallace, Adam Sabes, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
True Crime
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
