Horror in Texas: a dangerous escaped convict massacres a family

A manhunt that ends in bloodshed. On Thursday, five members of the same family were killed in Texas by a dangerous inmate who had managed to escape from prison three weeks earlier. He was shot and killed by police after the crime. ABC News reports that the victims – a grandfather and his four grandsons (three brothers, ages 18, 16 and 11, and their 11-year-old cousin) – were found dead on the family’s ranch in Centerville. These kids were bright, shining stars, David Crane, a longtime family friend, told reporters Friday, saying the unspeakable incident resulted in an impossible loss.

 

We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. These precious people who loved and were loved by so many will never be forgotten, the family reacted in a statement. This is one of the most heartbreaking scenarios I’ve faced -and I’ve seen a lot of them, Andy Kahan, director of victim services with Crime Stoppers Houston, told reporters.

 

Gonzalo Lopez, 46, managed to escape from prison on May 12 while being driven to a medical appointment. At the time, he was listed as one of Texas’ 10 most wanted fugitives and a $50,000 reward was promised for his capture. The man, who was serving two life sentences for murder, escaped from the bus he was on by managing to undo the restraints on his wrists. He then stabbed the driver. When he was pursued Thursday after the murders, he was in a pickup truck stolen from the victims’ ranch and headed to Mexico and was armed with an AR-15 rifle.