The name Francisco Oropesa is making headlines in numerous news reports. Well, you might think that it might be a great thing for a person to be in the headlines.
However, if the person has a possible death penalty in store for him, it might not be that good news for him. Yes! Oropesa has become so infamous for his monstrosity that the death penalty might be the final outcome.
Puzzled? Well, the news is such that it can jolt even a dead man from his slumber. Speaking of death, the man in question has been charged with murder. However, the number of his possible victims is even more shocking.
Till now, the count is five and it seems to be the final count. So, if these lines have excited your grey cells, then you must go through the rest of the article.
Who is Francisco Oropesa?
Before proceeding further into the news, we must have some knowledge about the accused. He is originally from Mexico, being born and brought up in the country.
However, if we are to trust the reports of ABC News then, between March 2009 and July 2016 he was deported back from the US to Mexico. He had been a resident of Cleveland since and he had the habit of shooting out in his yard.
Moreover, here you must know that being under arrest is not something new to him. He has had prior records of being arrested for drinking and driving cases. So, here we have a seasoned troublemaker in him.
The Incident of Mass Shooting
The fateful date was 28 April 2023. At around 11:31 p.m. CDT, the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office in East Texas received a call about harassment. Official records suggest that there were around people at the place of the incident which is located 9.7 km northwest of Cleveland.
If we are to follow the police report, then a neighbour of Oropesa asked him to stop firing his AR-15 rifle in his yard. The neighbour was making that request as that person was trying to make a baby sleep. However, he refused to do that and claimed that he was licensed to do anything in his own yard.
Things took a bitter turn as the neighbour warned him to call the police. You might be shocked to know that the accused then fetched his rifle and entered the neighbour’s house. However, he did not stop at that and started to shoot.
Four out of his five victims died on the spot. Though the nine-year-old kid was rushed to the hospital, he was announced dead on arrival. Along with that, there were also three other traumatised victims who, though unharmed, have been moved to the hospital.
The Arrest
The police acted swiftly after the murders to get hold of the accused. Here you might be interested to know that Oropesa’s identity was confirmed through footage from the doorbell camera. FBI’s Houston field office initiated the search after a judge issued an arrest warrant for him with a $5 million bond.
Initially, the investigating team marked a 3.2 km search radius, which was expanded to around 16 km. A reward of $80,000, which was increased to $100,000 was also announced for helping the police in the arrest.
Here you must know that on May 1, the suspect was briefly seen near Texas State Highway 105, prompting local school closures. On May 2, Oropeza was found in Cut and Shoot, Texas, about 6 miles east of Conroe, thanks to a tip received through the FBI’s tip line at 5:15 p.m. CDT.
He was apprehended at 6:30 p.m. CDT by a team including U.S. Marshals, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and BORTAC, at a house linked to one of his family members.
The Trial
The trial for the murder commenced soon after his arrest. The jury has been prompt in indicting the accused of 5 murders. San Jacinto County District Attorney Todd Dillon added that they are yet to decide on pushing for a death penalty for the accused.
This delay is caused by the fact that the accused’s side has not yet had a chance to place their mitigation evidence. However, once the evidence arrives, it is likely that the team will press for the death penalty for the accused.
Also read: Nikki Brass Recounts Creepy Date with Gilgo Beach Murders Suspect Rex Heuermann
