Mexican National Kills 5 Neighbors in Mass Shooting

Francisco Oropeza, a 38-year-old Mexican national who had been deported from the United States four times, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Oropeza was convicted for the murder of five of his Texas neighbors, including an 8-year-old boy. The incident occurred after the victims requested Oropeza to cease firing his AR-style rifle as a baby was attempting to sleep.

Oropeza received his sentence on Wednesday, following a guilty plea for the murders of Sonia Argentina Guzmán Taibot, 28, Daniel Enrique Lazo Guzmán, 8, Josué Jonatan Cáceres, 18, Diana Velasquez Alvarado, 21, and Obdulia Molina Rivera, 31. The plea deal was accepted to avoid the death penalty, according to reports.

San Jacinto County District Attorney Todd Dillon stated that Oropeza is not eligible for deportation or any other form of leniency. He will remain in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the rest of his life.

The tragic incident took place on April 28, 2023, in a residence in Cleveland, Texas, approximately 45 miles north of Houston. One of the surviving neighbors, Wilson Garcia, had asked Oropeza to stop firing his rifle in the front yard as his baby was trying to sleep.

Garcia, who lost his wife, Argentina Guzmán Taibot, and son, Daniel, in the incident, recounted the horrifying event. He explained that they were preparing a meal for their guests when Oropeza began shooting. Before they could contact the police, Oropeza approached their front door and shot Garcia’s wife. He then entered the house and proceeded to kill the other four victims.

San Jacinto Sheriff Greg Capers confirmed that the victims were shot in the head. Two female victims were discovered in a bedroom, lying on top of two surviving children. Oropeza was apprehended days later following an extensive manhunt.