A man is accused of fatally shooting five of his neighbors, including an 8-year-old child, in their Cleveland, Texas, home after they asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard, authorities said.
The suspect, 38-year-old Francisco Oropez, was armed with an AR-style rifle when he allegedly went to the home on Walters Road in the Trails End area around 11:30 p.m. Friday and opened fire, the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office said.
Authorities are searching for the suspect, who they believe fled the county. Investigators were using scent-tracking dogs and a drone to find the man. The FBI’s Houston office said it was assisting.
Four of the victims were found dead inside the house, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post on Saturday. The child died at a hospital.
Authorities said deputies were called to the home in reference to a harassment complaint.
“While enroute, the communications center received multiple 911 calls of an active shooter incident at the dispatch location,” the department said.
Sheriff Greg Capers told reporters that the deceased victims were all from Honduras and ranged in age from 8 to 40. They were located in the living room, a bedroom and by the front door of the home.
Three juveniles were taken to the hospital. Sheriff Capers said they were “covered in blood” but were not injured.
He told reporters that two women killed in the bedroom were lying over some of the surviving children.
Two others in the home were evaluated on scene and released, the sheriff’s office said.
Share your thoughts