Mexican national and illegal immigrant Francisco Oropeza has accepted a plea agreement that will see him spend the remainder of his life in prison for the April 2023 murder of five people in the Trails End community of San Jacinto County. The agreement, negotiated by San Jacinto County District Attorney Todd Dillon and Oropeza’s attorneys – Anthony Osso and Lisa Andrews, removes the possibility of the death penalty but ensures Oropeza will never experience freedom again.
Dillon explained that the plea agreement was a practical decision aimed at securing justice for the victims’ families while considering the county’s financial limitations.
“The current estimate for trying this case ranges from $1.2 million to $2 million—four times our annual budget for indigent cases,” Dillon said. “That doesn’t include the cost of appeals, which could last for many years. This agreement allows us to achieve justice without placing a massive financial burden on the county.”
The families of the victims were consulted about the plea deal, with translators facilitating discussions when necessary. According to Dillon, most families supported the agreement, provided Oropeza would never be eligible for parole or deportation.
“They were under the mistaken belief that a guilty verdict could result in his deportation, but that is not the case,” Dillon said. “This ensures he remains in prison here for the rest of his life.”
While some may feel disappointed by the lack of a death penalty, Dillon emphasized his broader responsibility to the county. “This was the best way to guarantee that Mr. Oropeza is never a threat to anyone again,” he said.
To see video of Oropeza being led away from the courthouse, click here:
The crime
On April 29, 2023, Oropeza entered his neighbors’ home in the Trails End subdivision near Cleveland, Texas, and carried out a brutal mass shooting. A Ring doorbell camera reportedly captured him forcing his way into the home on Walter Street around 1 a.m. The shooting occurred shortly after neighbors had asked Oropeza to stop firing his AR-223 rifle in his yard because their newborn was trying to sleep.
According to then-San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers, Oropeza, believed to be intoxicated at the time, retaliated by storming into the home and opening fire. His actions resulted in the deaths of five people, including an 8-year-old boy. Law enforcement described the attack as execution-style, with Oropeza systematically moving from room to room, looking for victims.
At the time of the shooting, 10 people were in the home, including three small children. The mothers of two of the surviving children shielded them with their own bodies, sacrificing their lives to save their children.
Four victims died inside the home, and the youngest victim succumbed to injuries after being transported to a Cleveland hospital.
After the murders, Oropeza fled, prompting an intense manhunt across five counties. He was captured on May 2, 2023, at a relative’s home in Cut and Shoot, Texas, just miles from the crime scene.
Oropeza, a Mexican national, had entered the United States illegally and had been deported at least four times prior to the murders. His arrest and subsequent plea agreement have drawn attention to the systemic challenges surrounding immigration enforcement and repeat offenders.
With Oropeza’s life sentence now secured, the families of his victims can begin to find closure, knowing he will never walk free again.
Family members address condemned killer
After accepting the plea deal, Oropeza, wearing a pink and white-striped jail jumpsuit, was seated at a table alongside his attorneys and an interpreter. Stone-faced and without any emotion, he listened as the sister and mother of two of his victims spoke about what life has been like since that awful day. Both women needed an interpreter to translate their messages into English for the court.
The sister, her voice shaking with grief, looked directly at Oropeza.
“I would like to ask you what my sister did to you that you would take away her life. I would also like to tell you that you left me without my only sister,” she said.
The mother, sobbing as she spoke, described April 29, 2023, as the most difficult moment of her life.
“You caused so much pain to our families. You are paying for what you did. May God have mercy upon your life,” the mother said.
Judge Albert McCaig then took a moment to address the grieving families, offering words of condolence.
“For those who suffered this loss, my heart goes out to you. There is nothing we can do today to replace your loss. We have done as much as we can for the state of Texas. I ask that God bless you and be with you in your time of sorrow,” the judge said.
As Oropeza was led away from the courthouse, the only glimpse of emotion he displayed surfaced. A Hispanic woman standing outside filmed his departure on her cell phone, shouting in Spanish that she loved him and would be in contact with him soon. Oropeza turned and smiled at her before being escorted away by Sheriff Sam Houston and San Jacinto County deputies.
They’re not sending their best.
They should have given him the death penalty just like he took the lives of the family
Just another criminal wetback insect in our community. What’s new?
We had something similar happen here in Montgomery county with the guns and illegals.
A party was happening next door, and there were about 20 piss drunk mojados. Called the cops over their insanely loud circus music around midnight. Then they began shooting an AK-47 less than 100 feet outside my daughter’s bedroom window. Called the Sheriff dept back. I had provided their address and had video. This went on from midnight until almost 4am, and at least two other neighbors called the police.
The police never responded, as far as I know. They said they were having “a busy night” when I called. Pretty sure my property taxes just tripled in the last 4 years, so they might want to provide the protection we are being taxed for- otherwise it only leaves vigilante justice as our only option to protect our families from this degeneracy. Hopefully under Doolittle, they will be a little more responsive to deadly conduct.
Luckily these family of scum moved, but it still happens all over the neighborhood. Just one out of a few hundred reasons these pukes don’t belong in our country.
Question what would you do or what would this world be without hispanics yall dont even dare to clean a house, cut yards,COOK etc.. not all hispanics are the same okay. Im not saying they are all saints just like YOU white people have massacres too from people like “your kind” so dont you dare call a human being just like yourself trash. Get educated.
If you are here LEGALLY and are being productive (work, pay taxes, etc.) then you are not the problem.
Oh yes!
What ever would the most advanced society in the world do without you breeders here to scrub toilets, serve tacos contaminated with fecal matter, and shit in produce trailers causing E. Coli outbreaks?
.556 are less than $1
He should have got the death penalty life in prison isnt crap he killed 5 ppl and he gets to be fed three times a day and houses by the tax payers this is ridiculous
Well the guy is wrong. This is not justice. It is a mockery of the justice system. Lazy prosecutors are part of the problem. Does nothing to deter similar crimes when you let these vermin live.