DALLAS – (WBAP/KLIF) Texas officials are warning people living in the east/central Texas part of the state to stay indoors and be on the lookout for a violent escaped prisoner on the run. A Texas-sized manhunt is underway for Gonzalo Lopez, who officials say escaped from restraints aboard a prison bus, stabbed the driver, took off with the bus, and then on foot. Police say the man is serving time for killing a man with a pickax and has been associated with other violent crimes.
Reward for information leading to the capture of Lopez now totals $22,500, with the first $10,000 of that reward offered by the U.S. Marshal’s Service. None of the other reported 16 prisoners aboard escaped, say officials. Lopez was sighted in a pasture and fired upon, but officials say they don’t believe they hit him.
Lopez was last noted in prison records as being held in Gatesville, more than 100 miles from where authorities were last known conducting an intensive search. The area of escape was just outside of Centerville in Leon County. Anyone with information on Lopez is urged to contact 9-1-1, TDCJ Crime Stoppers at 800-832-8477 or their local law enforcement agency. Tips can also be left anonymously at https://bit.ly/3L6Frwx
(Copyright, All Rights Reserved, WBAP/KLIF 2022)