This Tuesday, authorities arrested Francisco Oropesa, the man suspected of killing five people on Friday in the city of Cleveland, Texas.
Around 250 officers had been searching for this illegal immigrant since Friday. That night, Oropesa allegedly killed five of his neighbors after they asked him to stop firing his gun. Four adults were found dead at the scene and one child died later at the hospital.
#BREAKING San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers and @FBIHouston announce that Francisco Oropesa has been CAPTURED.
He was arrested this evening at around 6:45 p.m. at a home in Conroe, TX, after the #FBI received an anonymous tip with his location. #ClevelandTXshooting pic.twitter.com/9KySBs09UC— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) May 3, 2023
The arrest took place in the Texas town of Cut and Shoot, about 16 miles west of Cleveland, where the shooting occurred. San Jacinto County (the jurisdiction where the shootings took place) Sheriff Greg Capers announced that the arrest occurred without incident around 7 pm local time. The suspect was found hiding in a closet under a pile of laundry.
Anonymous tip-off
Authorities said an anonymous caller contacted the FBI hotline and tipped off Francisco Oropesa's hiding place. The authorities had previously reported that they had no clue as to his whereabouts. They offered thousands of dollars in reward money for information on the suspect's whereabouts.
#BREAKING San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers announces a $55,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Francisco Oropesa for his role in the #ClevelandTXShooting.
Call 911 if you see him or have information about his location. pic.twitter.com/5F5HlfdNZS
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) April 30, 2023
Immigration and Customs Enforcement sources revealed that the 38-year-old fugitive had been deported to Mexico at least four times between 2009 and 2016.
Francisco Oropesa's Wife Arrested
Hours after Francisco Oropesa's arrest, authorities revealed that his wife has also been taken into custody.
Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson announced that Divimara Lamar Nava, 53, was arrested in connection with Friday night's shootings, according to local media reports.
Divimara Lamar Nava, 53, wife of suspect Francisco Oropeza, was in custody in connection with the Friday night shooting, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson. https://t.co/aNKhF6Cv7A
— ABC11 EyewitnessNews (@ABC11_WTVD) May 3, 2023
Henderson stated that Nava had previously denied knowing Oropeza's whereabouts, however, authorities believe it was she who hid him at the home where he was arrested Tuesday. Francisco Oropesa's wife was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on a felony charge of hindering the apprehension and prosecution of a felon.
