01 May 2023 , 14:38
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Families are mourning the loss of the victims of the tragic shooting in Texas that left five people dead, including a nine-year-old boy and two women who died while shielding a two-year-old baby.
The shooting occurred in a rural town north of Houston after the gunman, 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, refused to stop shooting his gun despite being "respectfully" asked by Wilson Garcia and two others.
The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 9.
Two female victims were discovered in the bedroom lying on top of two surviving children, authorities have said. The children were rescued from the scene covered in blood but uninjured.
Oropeza remains at large with police still searching for him with a reward of $80,000 (£64,000) while they said he should be considered armed and dangerous.
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Victim Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25Grieving Wilson Garcia spoke to the press and explained how the tragic massacre unfolded.
He said he and his neighbours heard Francisco Oropeza shooting his gun late on Friday, April 28, at night.
Mr Garcia, accompanied by two other people, went to Oropeza's house to ask him to shoot farther away from their home.
21-year-old Diana Velazquez Alvarado died in the tragic event (c)Oropeza refused and told them he could do what he wanted on his property, according to Mr Garcia, who then called the police after Oropeza rejected his request.
Oropeza continued to shoot, and Mr Garcia's family called the police five times, until, after about 10 to 20 minutes, Oropeza ran towards Mr Garcia's house while reloading.
Oropeza killed Mr Garcia's wife, who was at the front door, and then proceeded to shoot 15 people in total, killing four, including Mr Garcia's 9-year-old son.
Julisa Molina Rivera was among the victims (GoFundME)Police recovered the AR-15-style rifle that Oropeza used in the shootings.
Authorities identified Oropeza using an identity card issued by Mexican authorities to citizens who resided outside the country, as well as doorbell camera footage.
Wilson Garcia said he never imagined a massacre would take place in his house (KTRK)Police conducted a search for Oropeza, involving more than 200 police from multiple jurisdictions.
Gov. Greg Abbott offered a $50,000 reward for information about Oropeza's whereabouts before local officials and the FBI contributed bringing the total to $80,000.
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Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18, died in the shooting (GoFundME)Police went door-to-door in hopes of finding any clues that would lead them to Oropeza.
Investigators found clothes and a phone while combing an area that includes dense layers of the forest but tracking dogs lost the scent.
Authorities consider Oropeza, who is still at large, armed and dangerous.
Wilson Garcia's nine-year-old stepson, Daniel Enrique Laso, was among the victims (KTRK)Police removed crime scene tape from around Mr Garcia's home and put up billboards in Spanish to spread the word about the reward money.
Veronica Pineda, who lived across the street from Oropeza's home, allowed authorities to search her property to see if he might be hiding there.
Neighbours reported that they had called authorities in the past to complain about people firing guns.
Mr Garcia said he was trying to be strong for his surviving children, who were struggling to come to terms with their loss.
“I am trying to be strong for my children," he said, crying. “My daughter sort of understands. It is very difficult when she begins to ask for mama and for her (older) brother.”