Five People Are Shot Dead In Texas Residence By Gunmen, Including Toddler
According to police in Texas, a dispute over the man practicing shooting with a semi-automatic weapon nearby led to the death of five of the man’s neighbors.
All of the victims, including the eight-year-old youngster, were Hondurans.
The incident took place on Friday night in the rural community of Cleveland in San Jacinto County, which is located north of Houston.
According to the local sheriff, Greg Capers, two mothers who were found sleeping on top of two living children were among those who died.
Sheriff Capers told a local station KTRK, “In my opinion, they were actually trying to take care of the babies and keep them alive.” The victims had all been shot “from the neck up, almost execution style, primarily in the head,” he continued.
The 38-year-old suspect has been identified as Francisco Oropez, who is thought to be Mexican. He is still at large and is rumored to be armed. With five charges of murder, he is accused.
Police are searching for the culprit, who is thought to be hiding in a nearby woodland, with dogs and a drone.
According to the sheriff’s office, a call regarding “harassment” was made at approximately 23:30 local time on Friday (04:30 GMT Saturday).
The victims, who were attempting to put a baby to sleep, are thought to have requested Mr. Oropez, who was allegedly intoxicated, to stop firing.
The man said, according to Sheriff Capers, “I’ll shoot out in my front yard, do what I want to in
After both parties returned to their houses, the gunman “topped off his magazine, and walked down his driveway… into the people’s house and started shooting,” Sheriff Capers said.
A total of 10 people were at the property at the time. The adults were declared dead at the scene, and the eight-year-old died at a hospital.
The gunman is believed to have used an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.
Neighbour Veronica Pineda said she heard the shooting, but that the sound of gunfire was a regular occurrence: “It’s normal, in this neighbourhood they’re always shooting. They’re always calling the cops and there’s nothing done for that.
“So yesterday I heard the shooting but I thought it was, like, a normal day. I never thought this was happening.”
The incident came days after nine people were injured at a shooting during a teenagers’ party in western Texas.
Two weeks ago four young people were shot deadduring a 16th birthday party in Alabama.
Firearm incidents are the top cause of death for US children and teenagers, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
