Suspect in San Jacinto Co. shooting that killed 5 neighbors indicted on capital murder charge
SAN JACINTO COUNTY, Texas -- A man accused of killing his five neighbors in Cleveland, Texas after some of them complained that gunfire was keeping a baby awake was indicted Friday on a capital murder charge that could carry the death penalty.
Prosecutors said they do not know yet whether they will seek the death penalty against Francisco Oropeza, 38, who is a Mexican national and had been deported multiple times in the years prior to the April attack outside Houston.
"I think it's a little too early for us to make that call," San Jacinto County District Attorney Todd Dillon said.
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Dillon said he expects Oropeza to plead not guilty during a court appearance in August. A lawyer for Oropeza did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
Police say Oropeza stormed into his neighbor's house on April 28 after being asked by them to stop firing his AR-style rifle because a baby was trying to sleep. All five victims were from Honduras, including a 9-year-old boy.
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The shooting happened in the rural town of Cleveland, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Houston. Police say Oropeza fled the neighborhood after the shooting, setting off a widening manhunt that came up empty for days despite more than 250 officers, drones and scent-tracking dogs searching and $80,000 in reward money being offered.
Oropeza was eventually arrested near Conroe, roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the home where the shooting took place.
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