COLDSPRING, Texas — A man charged with the murder of five individuals in Texas in 2023, following a neighbor’s complaint about his late-night gunfire disturbing a baby, has pleaded guilty to the charges and will serve a life sentence without chance of parole. This information was confirmed by a prosecutor involved in the case.
Francisco Oropeza, a national of Mexico, entered a guilty plea to multiple counts of capital murder as part of a plea agreement designed to prevent the possibility of facing the death penalty. San Jacinto County District Attorney Todd Dillon reported that this decision came after extensive discussions with the victims’ families.
According to U.S. immigration authorities, Oropeza had previously been deported four times between 2009 and 2016; however, Dillon stated that he would spend the remainder of his life in a Texas prison. “He is not eligible for deportation. He is not eligible for anything,” Dillon commented, emphasizing that Oropeza would remain until he dies.
The plea was entered after Oropeza listened to emotional testimony from the victims’ relatives, as indicated by Dillon. His attorney, Anthony Osso Sr., had not provided immediate comments on the matter but noted in the past that tensions had escalated between Oropeza and his neighbors over time.
The series of events began when police reported that Oropeza entered his neighbor’s home on April 28, 2023, after being warned to cease firing his weapon late at night. Among the five victims were individuals from Honduras, including a 9-year-old boy, while the infant in the household sustained no injuries.
The tragic incident unfolded in Cleveland, a rural area situated approximately 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Houston. After the shooting, Oropeza fled the area, prompting a major manhunt. Law enforcement ultimately apprehended him near Conroe, around 20 miles (32 kilometers) from where the shootings took place.
