Sonia Argentina Guzman and her son, Daniel Enrique Laso-Guzman.
A Texas man on Sunday emotionally recalled the moments a gunman allegedly stormed his home,killing his wife, 9-year-old son and three family friendsbeforeescaping on foot.
Speaking with reporters, a tearful Wilson Garcia said he’s “trying to be strong” for his other children, as police continue to search for the neighbor accused in the mass shooting, which took place Friday night in Cleveland, Texas, 45 miles north of Houston.
There’s currently an $80,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of Francisco Oropeza, 38. Police say they have “zero leads” on where the suspect went after the shooting.
Wilson Garcia.AP Photo/David J. Phillip
After “respectfully” asking Oropeza to shoot elsewhere, Garcia said Oropeza “told us he was on his property, and he could do what he wanted,” according to the Associated Press.
Garcia said he and his family called the police five separate times. Then 10 to 20 minutes later, he said, Oropeza allegedly ran towards him and began reloading his weapon.
“My wife told me to go inside because ‘He won’t fire at me, I’m a woman,’ " Garcia recalled. But Oropeza allegedly shot his wife, Sonia Argentina Guzman, at the front door, killing the 25-year-old mother before entering the home and firing at others.
Garcia said two women were shielding his other children with their bodies when they were shot and killed, as well. Before she was shot, one of the women told Garcia to jump out of a window and escape.
“She told me to throw myself out the window because my children were already without a mother,” Garcia said, according to CNN. “So one of us had to stay alive to take care of them. She was the person who helped me jump out the window.”
Francisco Oropesa.FBI/ZUMA Press Wire Service
In all, police allege Oropeza shot and killed five people inside the home, according to CNN. The victims were Diana Velázquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31, and José Jonathan Cásarez, 18, as well as Guzman and the family’s son Daniel, who turned 9 in January.
“I am trying to be strong for my children,” Garcia tearfully told reporters, according to the AP. “My daughter sort of understands. It is very difficult when she begins to ask for mama and for her (older) brother.”
Police say they believe Oropeza fled the area on foot and that they’ve been searching neighborhood homes, asking locals for any help finding the suspect.
“I don’t care if he was here legally. I don’t care if he was here illegally. He was in my county,” San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers told reporters, according to CNN. “Five people died in my county, and that is where my heart is – in my county, protecting my people to the best of our ability.”
source: people.com
