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Texas shooting: Father tells how gunman opened fire on his family home | Texas shooting: Father tells how gunman opened fire on his family home |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Watch: Wilson Garcia describes the tragic events that allowed him to flee | |
Watch: Wilson Garcia describes the tragic events that allowed him to flee | |
A man who lost his wife and son in a deadly mass shooting in Texas has tearfully recalled the details of the tragedy at a vigil held on Sunday. | A man who lost his wife and son in a deadly mass shooting in Texas has tearfully recalled the details of the tragedy at a vigil held on Sunday. |
Wilson Garcia said the noise of a neighbour's gunfire made his one-month-old son cry, so he and two others asked the man to move farther away. | Wilson Garcia said the noise of a neighbour's gunfire made his one-month-old son cry, so he and two others asked the man to move farther away. |
The suspect, 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, later fired indiscriminately on Mr Garcia's home, killing five people inside, say police. | The suspect, 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, later fired indiscriminately on Mr Garcia's home, killing five people inside, say police. |
He remains on the loose. | He remains on the loose. |
Authorities have announced an $80,000 (£64,000) reward for information leading to Mr Oropeza's arrest, funded by Texas Governor Gregg Abbott, the FBI and local authorities. | Authorities have announced an $80,000 (£64,000) reward for information leading to Mr Oropeza's arrest, funded by Texas Governor Gregg Abbott, the FBI and local authorities. |
Mr Garcia said he "respectfully" asked his neighbour in the small town of Cleveland, San Jacinto County, to shoot his gun farther away so his infant son could sleep. | Mr Garcia said he "respectfully" asked his neighbour in the small town of Cleveland, San Jacinto County, to shoot his gun farther away so his infant son could sleep. |
"He told us he was on his property, and he could do what he wanted," he told Associated Press. | "He told us he was on his property, and he could do what he wanted," he told Associated Press. |
Mr Garcia called the police five times and was reassured each time that help was on the way. Then he saw Mr Oropeza running toward his home and reloading his weapon. | Mr Garcia called the police five times and was reassured each time that help was on the way. Then he saw Mr Oropeza running toward his home and reloading his weapon. |
His wife, Sonia Argentina Guzman, told him to go inside because he wouldn't fire at a woman, he recalled. But she turned out to be his first victim as he shot at the house. | His wife, Sonia Argentina Guzman, told him to go inside because he wouldn't fire at a woman, he recalled. But she turned out to be his first victim as he shot at the house. |
Watch: Texas sheriff gets emotional talking about victims | Watch: Texas sheriff gets emotional talking about victims |
Watch: Texas sheriff gets emotional talking about victims | Watch: Texas sheriff gets emotional talking about victims |
There were 15 people in the house at the time of the shooting - many of them reportedly there on a church retreat. | There were 15 people in the house at the time of the shooting - many of them reportedly there on a church retreat. |
Also among the dead was Mr Garcia's son, Daniel Enrique Laso, aged nine, and two women who died while protecting Mr Garcia's infant and two-year-old daughter. | Also among the dead was Mr Garcia's son, Daniel Enrique Laso, aged nine, and two women who died while protecting Mr Garcia's infant and two-year-old daughter. |
Mr Garcia said one of the women had told him to jump out a window to stay alive, in order to take care of his surviving children. | Mr Garcia said one of the women had told him to jump out a window to stay alive, in order to take care of his surviving children. |
The victims were all from Honduras. The others include Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; and Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18. | The victims were all from Honduras. The others include Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; and Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18. |
"I don't have words to describe what happened," Mr Garcia told local news. "It's like we're alive but at the same time we're not. What happened truly was horrible." | "I don't have words to describe what happened," Mr Garcia told local news. "It's like we're alive but at the same time we're not. What happened truly was horrible." |
Three children present during the shooting who were injured and taken to the hospital were released on Sunday, the Houston Chronicle reported. | Three children present during the shooting who were injured and taken to the hospital were released on Sunday, the Houston Chronicle reported. |
An aerial view of the search | An aerial view of the search |
A manhunt continues for the suspect. He should be considered armed and dangerous, police said. | A manhunt continues for the suspect. He should be considered armed and dangerous, police said. |
"I can tell you right now, we have zero leads," FBI special agent James Smith told reporters. "We do not know where he is. We don't have any tips right now to where he may be. Right now, we're running into dead ends." | "I can tell you right now, we have zero leads," FBI special agent James Smith told reporters. "We do not know where he is. We don't have any tips right now to where he may be. Right now, we're running into dead ends." |
Following the shooting, more than 150 officers gathered in a wooded area near the site to search where authorities initially believed Mr Oropeza had fled on foot, finding clothes and a phone. | Following the shooting, more than 150 officers gathered in a wooded area near the site to search where authorities initially believed Mr Oropeza had fled on foot, finding clothes and a phone. |
Tracking dogs eventually lost the suspect's scent, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said, but the search involving over 200 officers continued on Sunday. | Tracking dogs eventually lost the suspect's scent, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said, but the search involving over 200 officers continued on Sunday. |
How many US mass shootings have there been in 2023? | How many US mass shootings have there been in 2023? |
Where does US gun control go from here? | Where does US gun control go from here? |
When asked about the response time to Mr Garcia's multiple calls for help, he said officers got there as quickly as possible and that he had only three officers patrolling several hundred square miles. | When asked about the response time to Mr Garcia's multiple calls for help, he said officers got there as quickly as possible and that he had only three officers patrolling several hundred square miles. |
Honduras' foreign minister, Enrique Reina, tweeted: "We demand that the full weight of the law be applied against those who are responsible for this crime." | Honduras' foreign minister, Enrique Reina, tweeted: "We demand that the full weight of the law be applied against those who are responsible for this crime." |
The incident came days after nine people were injured at a shooting during a teenagers' party in western Texas. | The incident came days after nine people were injured at a shooting during a teenagers' party in western Texas. |
Two weeks ago, four young people were shot dead during a 16th birthday party in Alabama. | Two weeks ago, four young people were shot dead during a 16th birthday party in Alabama. |
Firearm incidents are the top cause of death for US children and teenagers, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | Firearm incidents are the top cause of death for US children and teenagers, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
US gun violence | US gun violence |
Texas | Texas |
United States | United States |