Officials said that a convicted murderer who had escaped a Texas prison bus was shot dead by Texas law enforcement after he killed five family members, including four children, as well as stealing a truck from their weekend cabin.
Gonzalo Lopez (46), died in a shootout in Jourdanton on Thursday after driving his pickup more than 200 mile (322 kilometers) from the cabin. Jason Clark, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, stated that Lopez was on the run since May 12. Since May 12, when he stabbed a driver of a prison bus, he had been on the loose.
Clark stated that Lopez had an AR-15-style rifle as well as a pistol, which Clark believes was taken from his cabin.
Atascosa County, which is 220 miles (354 km) southwest of the cabin, spotted the pickup stolen late Thursday night and followed it. Sheriff David Soward said that they stayed behind to avoid alerting him. Jourdanton officers used spike strips to flatten tires of the truck. Lopez managed to drive and fire several shots at officers, Soward stated.
He got out of his truck. He fired more rounds. Soward stated that at least four officers fired additional shots at the suspect.
Lopez escaped from a prison bus while being held in a cell. Police were called by someone concerned that they hadn’t heard from an elderly relative.
Officers were able to locate a rural cabin in Leon County near Centerville, where Lopez had escaped from the bus. Authorities have not released the names of the five victims found in the cabin.
According to the Tomball school district, suburban Houston, the children were students of the district. The adult was their grandfather.
“There are no words. “The Tomball community continues to come together in this difficult time following the tragic loss four students,” stated Martha Salazar-Zamora, school district superintendent.
