"Baby Jani, Please Be Quiet" Neighbor's Request Leads to Shooting... US Struggles with Gun Violence

Series of Gun Incidents in Texas, USA
"Baby Johnny, Please Be Quiet" Family Murder
Shooting Over $40 Fraud

Gun-related incidents are occurring one after another in the United States. In Texas, a man in his 30s shot and killed a family who had requested him to be quiet because their baby was sleeping.

Another incident involved a man in his 20s who shot and killed a man who had scammed him out of $40 (about 53,000 won) for parking fees during a date. Texas has been a region where multiple mass shootings occurred in 2017, 2019, and last year.

In Cleveland, Texas, USA, police are searching for a suspect near the scene where five family members were shot dead on the 29th.
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

On the 29th of last month (local time), CNN and others reported that a man opened fire on neighbors in San Jacinto, Texas, killing five family members including an 8-year-old child. The FBI announced that they are searching for Francisco Oropesa (38), who is originally from Mexico.

All the deceased were mostly executed with shots to the neck and head, and about 10 people were present in the victim’s home at the time of the incident. They were all Honduran immigrants, and three of the survivors are hospitalized and receiving treatment.

According to the police, around midnight the previous night in a residential area of Cleveland, the victims living next door to Oropesa requested, “A young baby is trying to sleep,” and “Please do not shoot guns in the yard at night.” Oropesa, who was drinking, reportedly said, “I will do whatever I want in my yard,” then stormed into the neighbor’s house and committed the crime.

Greg Kapers, sheriff of San Jacinto County Police, stated, “Oropesa used an AR-type rifle, and the murdered family were immigrants from Honduras.”

The suspect Oropesa is said to have had conflicts with other neighbors before. Rene Arevalo, who lives nearby, said, “He once threatened to kill me because my dog’s leash was loose. I always tell my wife to keep distance from neighbors,” adding, “Texas is a place where you never know who has a gun and when they might react like that.” However, he also noted that shooting in the yard as practice after work on Fridays is not considered a big deal.

"He scammed me like a parking attendant"
Returned to restaurant as if nothing happened after shooting

Mugshot of Eric Aguirre (29), charged with the murder of Elliott Nyx (46).
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

In Texas, there was also an incident where a man in his 20s shot and killed a man who had scammed him out of $40 by pretending to be a parking attendant during a date. After the shooting, the man calmly returned to the restaurant and ate his meal.

CNN reported, citing court records, that Eric Aguirre (29) appeared in court on charges of murder for killing Elliot Nix (46) on a street in Houston, Texas, on the 27th of last month.

According to court records, Aguirre visited a restaurant in Houston, Texas, on the evening of the 11th to have a date with a woman. At that time, the victim Nix claimed to be a parking attendant and said, “It costs $20 each to park the cars of Aguirre and his date,” and Aguirre paid Nix $40.

Later, before entering the restaurant, Aguirre and others learned from a restaurant employee that they had been scammed. A witness stated, “I saw Aguirre run to his car, grab a gun, and chase Nix. After hearing gunshots, I saw the suspect return to his car holding the gun ‘as if nothing happened.’”

Another witness found Nix bleeding on the street and reported it to the police. According to court records, Aguirre is presumed to have shot Nix in the torso, and Nix later died at the hospital. Aguirre reportedly put the gun back in his car after the incident and returned to the restaurant where his date was waiting.

The woman who was Aguirre’s date at the time told the police later that she neither saw nor knew about the shooting incident. After chasing Nix and returning, Aguirre told the woman, “I just scared him; everything is fine.”

The woman said Aguirre began to look uncomfortable just before sitting at the table and suggested, “Let’s eat somewhere else.” The police added that the woman voluntarily contacted them after the incident and testified against Aguirre. Aguirre is currently in custody and has not yet filed an appeal.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.