Texas Shooting: Cleveland ISD to hold prayer vigil for fallen student among 5 killed
Texas shooting: Prayer vigil held at elementary school of 8-year-old boy killed
Francisco Oropesa, 38, is still on the run after he allegedly shot and killed five people in San Jacinto County, including an 8-year-old boy. FOX 26's Gabby Hart attended the prayer vigil at the young boy's elementary school where the father who also lost his wife in the same shooting broke down in tears.
CLEVELAND, Texas - **EDITOR'S NOTE: The edits to the shooting suspect's name have been altered to reflect the FBI's note dated April 30**
Cleveland ISD is mourning the loss of one of its students after they were tragically killed during a mass shooting in San Jacinto County.
Emotions ran high at Northside Elementary School in Cleveland, Texas on Sunday evening as a vigil was held for 8-year-old Daniel Enrique Laso, a student at the school who was one of 5 people gunned down execution style by his next-door neighbor late Friday night.
BACKGROUND: 5 killed, including 8-year-old 'execution style' in San Jacinto County, shooter still at large
School staff, students, parents and members of the community stood together praying for the family now ripped apart by this tragedy.
"Whether your black, brown, whatever, we need to get together with the community and the more we can show love and compassion it'll be better for us," said Bernest Mitchell Sr. a community member who came to show his support.
The district offered condolences to the family and loved ones impacted by the tragic shooting.
Authorities are also still looking for the gunman, Francisco Oropesa, 38, who fled Friday night's shooting just north of Houston. Oropes is accused of killing five people in San Jacinto County.
SUGGESTED: Hunt for Francisco Oropesa: Sheriff says mass shooting gunman could be anywhere, $80K reward
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said Saturday evening authorities widened the search to as far as 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the scene of the shooting but said: "he could be anywhere by now."
(Photo courtesy of FBI Houston)
There were a total of 10 people in the home, however, FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8.
MORE: Sheriff says Texas mass shooting gunman could be anywhere
In a statement posted via social media, Cleveland ISD said in part:
"Cleveland Independent School District is heartbroken learning the news concerning the death of one of our students. At this time, we cannot elaborate with information due to the ongoing investigation of the horrendous tragedy.
"Cleveland ISD will take all measures, precautionary needs and any necessary actions to help all of our students and staff during this time, as well as keeping them safe!"
The suspected gunman 38-year-old Francisco Oropesa is still on the loose, and his trail has gone cold.
"We do not know where he is, we don't have any tips right now," said James Smith, with the FBI Houston field office.
More than 200 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers have all joined forces to catch Oropesa, they hope the 80K reward will be an incentive for someone to speak up.
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"Right now we're going door to door with these 200 officers; they're going door to door knocking on people's homes asking questions and looking for tips this $80,000 is in my opinion a really good motivator to have somebody turn him in," said San Jacinto Sheriff Greg Capers.
An $80,000 reward is now being offered for a massive reward now being offered for any information leading to his arrest.
Anyone who sees the suspect should not approach him, but instead, call 911 or 1-800-FBI-TIPS immediately.