Police in Texas shot dead a fugitive killer who was suspected of killing five family members - four teenage boys and their grandfather – while on the run. This ended a three-week-long manhunt that began after his dramatic escape.
Gonzalo Lopez was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006 for barbaric murder with a pickaxe. He also escaped from a prisonbus on May 12.
Three weeks had passed since the U.S. found the 46-year-old fugitive. The search for escapees was a priority for Marshals, who are the special agents in this area. They were doubtful about the magnitude of the manhunt, which was the most extensive in Texas history. Lopez, a square-faced boxer with a broad back and bulging pecs, had been tattooed with his biceps.
His determination is evident in the conditions he fled. Gonzalo Lopez was scheduled to be transferred from Gatesville prison to Huntsville Texas prison for a medical consult. It was a journey of approximately 260 km in a well-guarded prison bus. The convicted repeat offenders is one of those detainees who are under special surveillance. He is given special treatment. In the vehicle, 15 other prisoners are also transferred to him, he is placed inside a metal cage with his feet and hands tied.
Authorities have not provided any explanations as to how Gonzalo Lopez managed to board the bus with a homemade knife that was hidden on his body and then to remove his shackles. They reported that Gonzalo Lopez cut the metal partition in his cage and managed to get into the driver's seat, forcing him to stop the bus. A fight broke out between Lopez and the driver outside the vehicle. Lopez stabbed Lopez in the chest and hand. An additional armed officer is stationed at the rear of the bus and attempts to neutralize Lopez. The criminal managed to escape the cab and take control of the vehicle, leaving behind the guards. The two guards were left behind when the criminal opened fire and punctured the rear tire, making it difficult to maneuver. Gonzalo Lopez, who was only a kilometer away, is actually the victim of an escape from the road. He leaves the bus with its inmates behind and walks into the woods.
The hunt involved a lot of resources, including all police forces and dogs, as well as helicopters and helicopters. It was halfway between Houston, Dallas, in a hilly area that included plains, forests, and rivers. A slew of armed officers, wearing cowboy hats and riding on horses, made the trek through rugged terrain, looking like something out of a Western. The days went by without any results. The bounty for information that would favor Gonzalo Lopez's capture has been reassessed to $50,000
Unsurprisingly, the fugitive was at the top of the Texas list of most wanted men, which has a high incarceration rate that is higher than any other democracy on the planet.
The end of the calvary
After three weeks of inactivity, a concerned person called the police on Thursday, claiming that his family was not returning his calls. Five bodies were found in a second house, which was searched since the beginning. According to local media, the family is from Houston: three brothers, their cousin aged 11-18 years old, and their common grandfather. The investigators received the alert after noticing that the family car was not present.
Gonzalo Lopez's run ended at this car: The vehicle was spotted south of San Antonio in Jourdanton. A chase ensued, and the vehicle was finally stopped by a harrow placed on the road. Lopez, armed with an assault rifle, and a handgun opened fire on the officers but they were not struck. They responded and killed Lopez on the spot.
It's the end of an ordeal, said Jason Clark, who is responsible for the penitentiary management of this great state in South America.
