According to sources, Francisco Oropesa, a 38-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mexico, was arrested in the Cleveland, Texas area by the Border Patrol Tactical Unit for allegedly killing five neighbors, including an 8-year-old child. Oropesa had been deported at least four times before the incident, according to a source from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The incident occurred when one of Oropesa’s neighbors asked him to stop firing a rifle in his yard so that a baby could sleep. After the conversation, Oropesa allegedly entered the neighbor’s home and killed five of the ten people inside.
NBC News reported:
Francisco Oropesa, 38, was arrested Tuesday evening in [the community of] Cut and Shoot by members of a task force, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said. The sheriff in Montgomery County said he was arrested without incident around 7 p.m.
San Jacinto County District Attorney Todd Dillon had initially said authorities are awaiting fingerprints to confirm the person arrested is Oropesa.
The deceased victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25, Daniel Enrique Laso Guzman, age 9, Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21, Julisa Molina Rivera, 31, and Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18. Oropesa was previously convicted of driving while intoxicated in January 2021 and was sentenced to time in jail, according to records reviewed by Fox News Digital.
The incident has sparked debate about illegal immigration and border control, with some calling for stricter measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring. Others argue that the focus should be on addressing the root causes of such violent behavior, including mental health issues and access to firearms.
Of course, the usual calls for gun control have been abundant in the wake of the incident. Oropesa allegedly used an AR-15 rifle to carry out the shooting, which prompted the anti-gunner lobby to exploit the tragedy to push for more restrictions on lawful gun owners.
The case is currently under investigation, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.
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