In a tragic turn of events, a man accused of killing five people in Texas in 2023 has pleaded guilty to murder charges. The incident occurred in Coldspring, Texas, after a neighbor complained about the man firing a gun in his yard late at night, disturbing the peace.
The accused, identified as a Mexican national named Francisco Oropeza, entered a guilty plea to capital murder of multiple persons. This plea deal was made to avoid a potential death sentence, according to San Jacinto County District Attorney Todd Dillon.
Despite being deported multiple times between 2009 and 2016, Oropeza will now face a life sentence without the possibility of parole in Texas. Dillon emphasized that Oropeza will remain in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the rest of his life.
The plea was made following emotional testimony from the family members of the victims, who were all from Honduras. The tragic incident took place in Cleveland, a rural town located approximately 45 miles north of Houston.
According to police reports, Oropeza allegedly entered his neighbor's house on April 28, 2023, after being confronted about the late-night gunfire. The victims, including a 9-year-old boy, lost their lives in the shooting, while fortunately, the baby in the house was unharmed.
After the incident, Oropeza fled the neighborhood, leading to an extensive search operation. He was eventually apprehended near Conroe, around 20 miles from the crime scene, bringing an end to the manhunt.
