TDCJ suspending inmate transport for review after Texas inmate escape
The search for Gonzalo Lopez ended when he was shot and killed after a shootout June 2 in Atascosa County, south of San Antonio. Law enforcement believe Lopez killed five people, a grandfather and his four grandsons, earlier that day at a home in Leon County while hiding out from authorities.
(KXAN) — The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is reviewing its inmate transportation procedures after a capital murder inmate escaped from a bus on May 12 and stayed out of reach of authorities for more than three weeks.
The search for Gonzalo Lopez ended when he was shot and killed after a shootout June 2 in Atascosa County, south of San Antonio. Law enforcement believe Lopez killed five people, a grandfather and his four grandsons, earlier that day at a home in Leon County while hiding out from authorities.
Lopez was serving a life sentence for capital murder.
The TDCJ said it has "temporarily suspended the transport of inmates" as the agency reviews its policies. Additionally, TDCJ said it will "bring in an outside firm to conduct an independent review to identify factors that may have led to the escape of Lopez."
"If it becomes necessary to do a transport such as releasing or an emergency medical appointment, additional security measures will be implemented," TDCJ release said.
The U.S. Marshals said Lopez was on a transport bus with 15 other inmates and two guards from Gatesville to Huntsville when he was able to get free of his restraints near Leon County.
At the time of his escape, federal law enforcement said Lopez used “an object” to stab the bus driver, Officer Randy Smith, who is expected to survive. He was then able to “briefly” get ahold of Smith’s handgun, but was not able to free it from the holster, the U.S. Marshals said in a release. At some point, the guards and Lopez ended up outside of the bus.
The second guard, Officer Jimmie Brinegar shot the back tires of the bus before Lopez jumped back in and attempted to drive off, they said. He then drove roughly a mile before crashing and continuing on foot.
A spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice told KWTX they believed Lopez was still near Centerville right after his escape.
The family of five killed at the home in Leon County arrived earlier on June 2. The home wasn't a permanent home, the Chief of Staff for TDCJ Jason Clark said.
Clark said Lopez was hiding in wooded areas and had been inside the home to get water and change clothes. Authorities believe Lopez stole the guns used in the shootout from the property.
Law enforcement started to tail a Chevrolet Silverado that matched the description of a vehicle stolen from a home near Centerville where the family Lopez is suspected of killing was visiting.
Clark said law enforcement used spike strips on the pickup to disable it and Lopez crashed. He got out and started firing at responding law enforcement, but Clark said he didn’t hit anyone. Clark said Lopez had an AR-15 rifle and a pistol.