Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
Sunday night, local and federal law enforcement officials said they have had no success in their search for the man believed to have executed five people, including one child, in Southeast Texas late Friday night.
Authorities have spent more than 48 hours searching in vain for Francisco Oropesa, a 38-year-old who lives in Cleveland, Texas, which is located in the Greater Houston area.
“There are over 250 law enforcement officers from over a dozen agencies actively searching for Oropesa,” FBI Houston tweeted. “FBI Houston and other local, state, & federal agencies will not stop assisting SJSO until he is captured and justice is brought on behalf of the 5 victims.”
There are over 250 law enforcement officers from over a dozen agencies actively searching for Oropesa.
FBI Houston and other local, state, & federal agencies will not stop assisting SJSO until he is captured and justice is brought on behalf of the 5 victims. #ClevelandTXShooting pic.twitter.com/g0upaVp0cz
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) April 30, 2023
Oropesa is believed to have shot five of his neighbors, execution style, after he was asked to stop practicing firing his firearm. He is believed to have left the scene of the crime armed with at least the AR-15 with which he is believed to have committed the murders.
“We’re running into dead ends,” James Smith, the FBI special agent in charge, said during a press briefing. “Right now, we have zero leads.”
An $80,000 reward has been offered for information leading to Oropesa’s arrest, but authorities are no longer certain that Oropesa is still in San Jacinto County or within the massive search area they’ve established.
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 pic.twitter.com/ZWUu0FqoMF
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) April 30, 2023
All that is certain is that five people, all of whom are believed to be natives of Honduras, died in a heinous way and that they urge anyone who sees him to avoid approaching him.
“This man takes it upon himself to walk out of his residence with a loaded AR-15, walk out into the street, walk down the street, walk into that man’s driveway, walk up into that man’s house, and start shooting,” San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said during a press briefing.
As of this writing, Oropesa’s immigration status remains unclear. Numerous media outlets have reported that he was born in Mexico and had no criminal history of which to speak.
The victims have been identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and 8-year-old Daniel Enrique Laso.
It is believed that all five were natives of Honduras and Capers said it is of little consequence to him what their immigration status might have been.
“My heart is with this 8-year-old little boy,” Capers said Sunday. “I don’t care if he was here legally. I don’t care if he was here illegally. He was in my county. Five people died in my county, and that is where my heart is — in my county protecting our people to the best of our ability.”
Sunday evening, residents of Cleveland held a vigil while officers continued their search, which includes going door-to-door to search for leads.