Convicted murderer escapes after stabbing correctional officer during transport

Gonzalo Lopez dies in shootout with police

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June 3, 2022

CENTERVILLE, Texas – State and federal authorities were engaged in a manhunt for escaped convicted killer Gonzalo Lopez since May 12 after he overpowered and stabbed a correctional officer driving a transport bus. On Thursday, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed he was killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers.

Further investigation revealed that Lopez is connected to the deaths of five people this week in Centerville, sheriff’s officials disclosed. The murders occurred in the area where he escaped from the prison transport bus last month, which launched an intensive three-week manhunt, Fox News Digital reported.

Without providing further details, officials said Lopez was killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers engaged in the massive manhunt.

Authorities discovered the bodies of five murder victims in Lopez’ wake on Thursday as they conducted a welfare check at a home at the request of a relative. Among the dead are one adult and four minors.

Texas convict Gonzalo Lopez was killed in a shootout with police after three weeks on the run, Sheriff David Soward of Atascosa County, Texas, said.
Convicted murderer Gonzalo Lopez was killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers after three weeks on the run, Sheriff David Soward of Atascosa County, Texas, said. (Sheriff David Soward, Atascosa County, Texas)

It appears that Lopez likely stole a white 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup that was missing from the home prior to the shootout.

Gonzalo Lopez, a convicted murderer, escaped a prison transport bus on May 12.
Gonzalo Lopez, a convicted murderer, escaped a prison transport bus on May 12. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice)

During the May 12 transport of high-risk inmates, Lopez managed to get out of his restraints and cut through a metal cage to get access to the correctional officer behind the wheel. This allowed him to commandeer the bus before a second correctional officer shot out the tires and the vehicle crashed. Lopez was last seen running into the woods off Highway 7.


May 31, 2022

CENTERVILLE, Texas – The manhunt for escaped killer Gonzalo Lopez has reached day 20. Newly released photos show the tattoos of Lopez, who has been on the run for nearly three weeks after stabbing a prison bus driver and making his getaway into the desert.

The escaped Texas inmate is an affiliate of the Mexican Mafia. A reward for information leading to his capture currently sits at $50,000.

The U.S. Marshals Service released several photos last week showing Lopez’s various tattoos, including one reading “Aztlan” across his lower back and another with “Gonzo” on his stomach, Fox News reported

Gonzalo Lopez is heavily tattooed and his ink includes "Aztlan" across his lower back and the word "Gonzo" on his stomach. 
Gonzalo Lopez is heavily tattooed and his ink includes “Aztlan” across his lower back and the word “Gonzo” on his stomach. (U.S. Marshals Service)

Lopez was serving back-to-back life sentences for murder and attempted murder.

The Leon County Sheriff’s Office obtained arrest warrants charging the convicted killer with escape and aggravated assault against a public servant.

Texas officials said this is considered the largest concentrated manhunt they’ve had in decades.


May 13, 2022

CENTERVILLE, Texas – A convicted killer escaped custody Thursday after he overpowered and stabbed the correctional officer who was driving a transport bus. A manhunt continues Friday for the fugitive, according to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

A spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice says the escape occurred around 1:20 p.m. as the bus was eastbound on Highway 7, KBTX reported.

The transport vehicle was traveling to Huntsville from Gatesville and as it approached Centerville, when Gonzalo Lopez “managed to release his restraints and used an unknown-type object to stab one of two guards on the bus,” according to the news outlet.

“Officer Jimmie Brinegar was in the back of the bus and Officer Randy Smith was driving the bus,” said spokesman Robert Hurst.

Lopez, 46, got into a fight with Smith and stabbed him in the hand during the confrontation.

“He stabbed Officer Smith in the left hand with some type of object. We don’t what it is. That is still under investigation. Smith struggled with him, trying to keep him from getting his service revolver, his weapon, that he had in a holster on his side and was able to keep Lopez from getting it,” said Hurst.

After the bus left the roadway and stopped, Lopez took off running into a nearby field.

Brinegar discharged several rounds in Lopez’ direction, but it’s unclear if he was hit, KBTX reported.

Gonzalo Lopez
A convicted murderer escaped custody Thursday after he overpowered and stabbed the driver of a transport bus in Texas. (Screenshot NBCDFW)

Lopez was serving a life sentence after being convicted of a murder that occurred in 2006 along the Texas-Mexico border. According to KXAN, he was also serving time for an attempted murder in another county.

Jason Clark, chief of staff for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said there were 16 prisoners aboard the bus, but no one else escaped, NBCDFW reported.

Lopez’ escape in rural Leon County — between Dallas and Houston — caused the cancelation of classes in the nearby Centerville Independent School District on Friday as a precaution, according to authorities.

The county has approximately 16,000 residents.

Gonzalo Lopez
Several law enforcement agencies are participating in the manhunt. (Screenshot NBCDFW)

The Leon County Sheriff’s Office said several agencies were involved in the search Friday, including aircraft from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Melanie Tieperman, a Centerville resident, drove past the bus as Lopez made his escape. She said the inmate jumped a fence and ran toward a home.

“Everyone’s pretty nervous. They’re locking all their homes and doors,” she said.

Tieperman said while seeing prison buses drive through town is not new, this is one incident that will stay with her.

“I’ve never really paid attention to those buses going down the road but I guarantee you I probably will be from here on out,” she said. “You don’t think about all the safety issues that you could deal with but really makes you start thinking.”

Smith is expected to recover from his injuries, authorities said.

According to the state’s prison records, Lopez was most recently being held at a facility in Gatesville, more than 100 miles from where authorities are searching, NBCDFW noted.


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