Centerville escaped convict Gonzalo Lopez murders Texas family including 4 kids before he’s killed in police standoff
ESCAPED convict, Gonzalo Lopez, was shot dead in a shootout with police after authorities believe he was involved in the murder of a family at their vacation home.
One adult and four children were found dead in Leon County where Lopez was spotted said the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The shootout happened in Jourdanton, Texas, just south of San Antonio. Authorities say Lopez had an AR-15 and a handgun inside the car that was likely from the residence where he murdered the family.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said they received a call from someone who was concerned after not hearing from an elderly relative.
Officers went to the residence and discovered the bodies and noted that a vehicle was missing as well.
A 1999 white Chevrolet Silverado, license plate DPV4520 was not located at the residence.
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Police believed Lopez may have driving the vehicle and was armed.
Lopez, 46, escaped from a prison bus on May 12 as it was headed to Huntsville for a medical appointment.
Somehow, Lopez managed to free himself from his hand and leg restraints a cut through the expanded metal of the cage before crawling out of the bottom, said TDCJ.
Lopez then attacked the bus driver, who stopped the bus. At some point during the altercation, the bus driver was stabbed and injured in the hand and chest, he survived his wounds.
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The driver suffered stab wounds to the hand and chest, according to Jason Clark, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's chief of staff.
An officer at the back of the bus then got off and approached Lopez. But the inmate climbed back aboard and started driving.
Officers shot at Lopez and managed to disable the bus by shooting a rear tire. The bus was able to travel a short distance before Lopez got out and ran into the woods.
Sixteen other prisoners were on the bus as well, but no one else escaped.
“He’s crafty,” said TDCJ spokesman Robert Hurst last month. “He’s done this before down in South Texas in Webb County, he hid out for almost nine days.”
A possible sighing of Lopez was investigated earlier this week but officers determined that it wasn’t him. However, the man that was reported by worried citizens ran off into a wooded area and was never located.
Highway 7 remains closed west of Centerville as police investigate.
A $50,000 reward is being offered for Lopez’s capture.
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Lopez, whose full name is Gonzalo Artemio Lopez, is on the
Lopez has a lengthy rap sheet dating back to 1996 when he was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault, the outlet reports.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Then in 2006, Lopez was convicted of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping and received a life sentence.
In 2007, Lopez received a second life sentence following an attempted capital murder conviction in another county.
He is now wanted for escape and aggravated assault of a public servant.
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Fugitives on the Most Wanted list are considered to be armed and dangerous.
If you see Lopez, do not approach him. Instead, call 911 immediately.
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