Texas prisoner suspected of killing five people after he escaped prison the bus was killed by the authorities on Thursday, officials said.
The mass hunt has begun for 46-year-old Gonzalo Lopez, when an adult and four children we found dead Thursday night at the residence in Leon County in east-central Texas, not far from where the prisoner escaped three weeks earlier. Lopez was thought to have broken into home and committed murders, according to the Texas Department of Criminal justice.
At the time, authorities said Lopez may have stolen clothes, firearms, and a white 1999 Chevrolet Silverado from the residence.
house was considered a day off home for victims whose main place of residence was in Houston. The authorities stated that family were seen on Thursday morning and were found killed around 6:00 pm local time after a man contacted law enforcement because he did not hear from an elderly relative inside home and were concerned. Authorities initially said that two adults and three children were discovered dead there.
“We will not rest until Gonzalo Lopez is in in custody, Jason Clarke, Chief of employees for Department of Texas of Criminal Justice,” the statement said at a press conference on Thursday evening.
This undated photograph is courtesy of the Department of Texas. of criminal justice shows prisoner Gonzalo Lopez. Lopez, 46, the year-old convicted killer, was killed in police shootout in Jordanton, Texas on June 2, 2022, after the escape prison bus near Centerville, Texas, on May 12, 2022 Allegedly killed five people bye on in run, the authorities said.
Department of Texas of criminal justice via AP
Later that night, Atascos County sheriff’s deputies noticed stolen pick up truck that Lopez was believed to have been driving, and following him. They laid out spike strips flattened all four wheels of in vehicle on a street in Jourdanton, just south of San Antonio and about 250 miles southwest of County of Leon. The suspect then pointed his rifle out of through the window and fired several shots at the deputies, who fire has returned, according to authorities.
The suspect was killed in shootout and it was confirmed that it was Lopez, who authorities said he was armed with AR-15 and pistol.
“We have received additional information from the US Marshals Service that he might be in San Antonio area. Then we increased our vigilance and, sure enough, we’ve spotted him,” Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward said at a press conference on Thursday evening. This dangerous man off in street and none of the officers were hurt.”
lopez, who served a life sentence for capital murder in Hidalgo County and capital attempt murder in Webb County, who managed to escape from the shackles, overcome the bus driver as well as escape out of custody near Centerville on May 12, while being transported from Gatesville to Huntsville. for medical reception. He was added to the Texas Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list and $50,000 reward was released for his capture.
Authorities said Lopez was allegedly tied up with Mexican mafia.
Meredith Deliso of ABC News, Marilyn Heck, Emily Shapiro, Floor Tolentino and Jennifer Watts contributed to this. story.
