The four-day manhunt for 38-year-old Francisco Oropesa ended Tuesday evening when authorities arrested the fugitive from justice. He was taken into custody around 7 p.m. local time in Cut and Shoot, Texas, which is about 17 miles from the horrific crime scene.
The illegal alien was concealed in a closet under some laundry, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Greg Capers.
Oropesa was booked into the county jail on five counts of murder and is being held on $5 million bond. Capers confirmed that he was to be transferred to the San Jacinto County jail in Cold Springs.
Several others were arrested, including Oropesa’s wife. Authorities said 53-year-old Divimara Lamar Nava was arrested early Wednesday morning. According to online jail records, she was charged with hindering the apprehension or prosecution of a known felon. No bond was listed.
Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) in a joint operation with other law enforcement
just caught Francisco Oropesa, the man wanted for killing five innocent people in Cleveland, Texas.God bless our Law Enforcement. #HonorFirst pic.twitter.com/CfTRkaCai4
— Mayra Flores (@MayraFlores2022) May 3, 2023
Officials say Nava had denied knowledge of her husband’s location, but they now believe she was hiding him at the home where he was arrested Tuesday.
Oropesa is alleged to have shot five neighbors in the head near the town of Cleveland after one of them complained about him firing a weapon in his front yard. They were worried that the gunshots would awaken a sleeping baby.
In an interview, the father of the infant said “We asked him to be quiet ‘cause my baby was scared.” He said the suspect went room to room looking for victims.
Oropesa is a Mexican national who was deported at least four times between 2009 and 2016. He previously served jail time for a DUI conviction.
The FBI reportedly received assistance from a member of the public to locate the suspect. Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Houston division Jimmy Paul confirmed this, adding that “we’re extremely happy that the citizen had the courage and the bravery to call in that tip.”
All of the mass shooting victims are believed to be from Honduras, and all were shot “from the neck up.” Authorities say there were 10 people at the house when the attack happened, and five of them emerged unhurt.
Three children were found by sheriff’s deputies covered in blood, but they were not injured.
