A man accused of a violent shooting spree that resulted in the deaths of five people, including a 9-year-old boy, has been indicted on charges of capital murder, according to The Associated Press and local sources in San Jacinto, Texas, Your Content has learned.
The incident took place on the night of April 28 when Francisco Oropeza, 38, allegedly refused to cease firing his AR-style rifle on his property, despite pleas from neighbors who were concerned about the noise disturbing a baby’s sleep.
One neighbor, Wilson Garcia, stated that Oropeza defiantly asserted his right to do as he pleased on his property.
Approximately twenty minutes later, Oropeza allegedly proceeded up the neighbor’s driveway with his rifle.
His first victim was Sonia Argentina Guzmán Taibot, 28, Garcia’s wife. Subsequently, Oropeza is accused of taking the lives of four more individuals, including the young boy, Daniel Enrique Lazo Guzmán, 9, and three others: Josué Jonatan Cáceres, 18, Diana Velasquez Alvarado, 21, and Obdulia Molina Rivera, 31.
At the time of the incident, there were reportedly fifteen people present at the residence, some of whom were friends of Guzmán gathered for a church retreat.
Garcia believes that Oropeza intended to harm everyone present.
Following the shooting, Oropeza evaded authorities for four days. Eventually, he was discovered hiding under laundry in a closet at his aunt’s house by law enforcement officers.
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers revealed Oropeza’s arrest and mentioned that Oropeza’s domestic partner, Divimara Lamar Nava, 52, and friend Domingo Castilla-Castillo, were also accused of aiding in his escape, according to Law and Crime.