Manhunt continues for Texas man accused of fatally shooting 5, including 9-year-old boy

SAN JACINTO COUNTY, Texas (TCD) -- Federal, state, and local officials are continuing their search for the 38-year-old man accused of killing five of his neighbors, including a young boy, over the weekend.

In the late hours of Friday, April 28, San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a call about harassment at a residence on the 100 block of Walters Road in Cleveland. While deputies drove to the residence, multiple calls came into the dispatch center regarding a shooting at the same location. Officials arrived and found several people injured and four deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.

Medics transported a juvenile to a hospital via helicopter, but he was later pronounced dead.

The San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Francisco Oropeza and said he should be considered armed and dangerous.

The FBI’s Houston office said there is now a combined reward of up to $80,000 if Oropeza gets apprehended.

A warrant is out for Oropeza’s arrest for five counts of murder.

The San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers identified the victims Sunday, April 30, as 25-year-old Sonia Argentina Guzman, 21-year-old Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 31-year-old Julisa Molina Rivera, 18-year-old Jonathan Cesarez, and 9-year-old Daniel Enrique Laso.

Officials initially said Daniel Laso was 8 years old but later corrected it to 9.

FBI Special Agent in Charge James Smith said officials had "zero" leads.

The shooting occurred after one of Oropeza’s neighbors allegedly asked him to stop shooting his AR-15 rifle in the yard because his child was trying to sleep, KHOU-TV reports. Oropeza allegedly then walked up to the neighbor’s house and opened fire. He then fled.

Five people survived the mass shooting, which was described as "almost execution-style."

Capers said in a Saturday news briefing that investigators located some of Oropeza’s clothing items and a cellphone in a wooded area, but tracking dogs from the Texas Department of Corrections later lost his scent.

Wilson Garcia, whose son and wife were killed in the shooting, told The Associated Press that he "respectfully" asked Oropeza to stop firing his weapon, but Oropeza allegedly told Garcia he "was on his property, and he could do what he wanted."

Garcia reportedly told his wife, Sonia Guzman, to run inside and hide, but Guzman told Garcia, "He won’t fire at me, I’m a woman."

Guzman, however, was reportedly the first person to die.

The Associated Press reports several of the victims were at Garcia’s home because they planned on attending a church retreat with Guzman. Some of the other victims died protecting Garcia’s young children. The victims were reportedly all from Honduras.

One of the victims reportedly told Garcia he needed to leave because his "children were without a mother and one of their parents had to stay alive to take care of them."

MORE:

• Shooting Scene - San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office
• Murder Suspect Wanted - San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office
• Officials give update on search for gunman accused of killing 5 in San Jacinto County - KHOU
• FBI gives updates on search for man who killed 5 people in San Jacinto County - KHOU
• Five people allegedly killed by man in San Jacinto County identified | Search for gunman continues - KHOU
• Man who lost wife, son in Texas shooting that killed 5 recalls how it unfolded - The Associated Press