DALLAS, Texas– A Texas resident has admitted guilt in the murder of his neighbors, following their complaints about noise from his gunfire.
Francisco Oropeza will serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole, avoiding a potential death sentence, according to San Jacinto County District Attorney Todd Dillon.
The incident occurred on April 28, 2023, in the rural town of Cleveland, located about 45 miles north of Houston.
Oropeza, who had been firing a gun in his yard late at night, was asked by his neighbors to stop, as the noise was keeping a baby awake.
In response, Oropeza stormed into his neighbors’ home and opened fire, killing five individuals, including a 9-year-old boy. Despite the violent shooting, the baby in the house was unharmed.
Oropeza, a Mexican national, had been deported from the U.S. four times between 2009 and 2016, according to U.S. immigration officials.
Despite his immigration history, Dillon confirmed that Oropeza will not be eligible for deportation and will remain in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the remainder of his life.
After pleading guilty, Oropeza listened to emotional testimony from the victims’ families in court.
His attorney, Anthony Osso Sr., did not immediately respond to requests for comment but had previously stated that tensions had been building between Oropeza and his neighbors for some time.
