Texas mass shooting survivor describes interaction with at-large suspect

A man who survived the mass shooting in Cleveland, Texas, explained to reporters Sunday exactly what happened before and during the massacre.

Wilson Garcia was one of 15 people inside the home when Francisco Oropeza stormed in and opened fire Friday night on a rural road about 40 miles north of Houston.

Police initially said the neighbors had asked Oropeza to stop shooting his gun in his backyard. But Garcia said that wasn’t the case.

Garcia’s 1-month-old son was inside the house crying, so Garcia and two other people say they “respectfully” asked Oropeza to shoot his weapon farther away from their house.

“He told us he was on his property, and he could do what he wanted,” Garcia said.

After the interaction, Garcia called the police. His family, called the cops five times, while Oropeza’s gunshots became louder and louder.

About 10 to 20 minutes after the initial conversation, Garcia saw Oropeza on his front porch, who then ran toward Garcia while reloading his gun.

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“I told my wife, ‘Get inside. This man has loaded his weapon,” Garcia said. “My wife told me to go inside because ‘he won’t fire at me, I’m a woman.’”

That statement was tragically wrong. Garcia’s wife, Sonia Argentina Guzman, was standing at the front door and was the first person killed.

Oropeza seemed intent on killing all 15 people inside the home, including family friends who were visiting, according to Garcia.

Oropeza fatally shot five people: Guzman, 25; Garcia’s 9-year-old son, Daniel Enrique Laso; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; and Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18. Alvarado and Rivera died while heroically shielding Garcia’s 2-year-old daughter and 1-month-old son.

“I am trying to be strong for my children,” Garcia said through tears. “My daughter sort of understands. It is very difficult when she begins to ask for mama and for her brother.”

Oropeza remained at large Monday morning. Cops described him as armed and dangerous. Despite a massive search effort, the lead FBI agent in the case said the agency had “zero leads” as of Sunday afternoon.

With News Wire Services