World News | Man kills 5 in Texas after family complains of gunshots

AUSTIN, April 29 (AP) — A Texas man walked next door with a rifle and began shooting at his neighbor, killing an 8-year-old and four others inside, after family members asked him to stop Shots were fired in the yard as they struggled to sleep, authorities said Saturday.

San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capes told reporters at the scene that authorities were still searching for Francisco Oropesa, 39, after an overnight shooting in the town of Cleveland, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Houston.

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Oropeza used an AR-style rifle in the shooting, he said.

“Everyone who was shot was shot from the neck up, almost execution-style,” Keppers said at an earlier on-site news conference.

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Capers said 10 people were in the house and no one else was injured. Two of the victims, both believed to be from Honduras, were found lying on top of the two children inside, he said.

“The Honduran lady who made the beds for the children did so to protect the children,” Capers said. A total of three children were found in the home covered in blood, she said, but determined they were not injured. was taken to hospital.

The other two were released after being checked at the scene, Keppers said.

Before the confrontation, the family went to the fence and asked the suspect to stop shooting, Keppers said.

According to Capers, the suspect responded by telling them it was his property, and that a person at the house was given video showing the suspect walking to the front door with a rifle.

Three of the victims were women and one was a man. Their names were not released. Keppers said the victims were between the ages of eight and 40.

Authorities had previously visited the suspect’s home, according to Capers. “Deputies came and talked to him about his shooting in the yard,” he said.

Some people in the house just moved from Houston earlier this week, Capers said, but he doesn’t know if they plan to stay there.

The rate of mass killings in the United States has hit a record high this year, with at least 18 shootings since Jan. 1 that have killed four or more people.

Violence is fueled by a range of motives: murder-suicide and domestic violence; gang revenge; school shootings and workplace vendettas. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)