Police release new pictures of tattooed gunman still at large after five dead

01 May 2023 , 10:28

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Francisco Oropesa is being hunted by 250 officers from the FBI following the mass Texas shooting (Image: FBIHouston/Twitter)

Police have released fresh images of a gunman accused of slaughtering five people in Texas.

Around 250 FBI enforcement officers are conducting a major manhunt for Francisco Oropesa, 38, who is accused of killing five including a mum and her son at a property in Cleveland, Texas.

Initially the Bureau accidentally used the wrong photo in their wanted poster, with investigators also having to amend the spelling of the Mexican's name, but this has now been corrected.

FBI Houston said: "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."

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to Mr Oropesa's arrest.

Francisco Oropesa is being hunted by 250 officers from the FBI (FBIHouston/Twitter)

The FBI has added $25,000 to this sum, according to FBI Special Agent James Smith and local law enforcement is also offering another $5,000.

San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said that Oropesa is likely to have fled on foot and investigators found clothes and a phone, but tracking dogs lost his scent and investigators said they have "zero leads", in the hunt for Oropesa.

Mr Oropesa's tattoo on his left forearm (FBIHouston/Twitter)

Mr Oropesa allegedly went into a rage after being told by neighbour, Wilson Garcia, to keep the noise down so his one-month-old baby could sleep.

Mr Garcia threatened to call the police on Oropesa, a Mexican national who was in the country illegally. In his anger, Oropesa is alleged to have shot dead Wilson's wife Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25, and her son Daniel Enrique Laso, nine along with three of their friends who were visiting at the time.

Francisco Oropesa (FBIHouston/Twitter)

Family friends Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21, Julisa Molina Rivera, 31, and Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18, were also killed.

Julisa and Diana are said to have died attempting to shield Mr Garcia’s baby and two-year-old daughter.

Mr Garcia said one of the women had told him to jump out a window “because my children were without a mother and one of their parents had to stay alive to take care of them.”

“I am trying to be strong for my children," Mr Garcia said, crying. “My daughter sort of understands. It is very difficult when she begins to ask for mama and for her (older) brother.”

Benjamin Lynch