A suspect has been arrested in Texas for allegedly killing five of his neighbors, including a 9-year-old boy, with an AR-style rifle. The arrest follows a mass search operation involving more than 250 law enforcement personnel, which lasted for four days. The suspect was identified as a 38-year-old Mexican national who had been deported from the US four times since 2009. He was caught hiding in a closet underneath some laundry near the town of Conroe, about 20 miles west of the home in Cleveland where the incident took place.
The shooting, which occurred on Friday, has once again brought the issue of gun control to the forefront in the US. Texas Governor Greg Abbott also faced criticism after he made an unsubstantiated claim that the suspect had “killed five illegal immigrants,” which was later walked back by his office. The father of one of the victims, who had just received US residency, spoke out about his shock and dismay at the tragedy.
The suspect will face five counts of murder, and his bond has been set at $5 million. The families of the victims have set up a makeshift memorial outside their home, and authorities hope that the arrest will bring some closure to those affected by the tragedy.
