Texas’ prison agency has suspended the transportation of inmates following the escape of a convicted killer from a prison bus and the subsequent deaths of five family members.
Gonzalo Lopez (46), an escaped prisoner, was shot dead by police after a shootout. This happened just hours after five other people were reported to have been killed.
Lopez managed to free himself from restraints while he was being moved to a medical appointment and to cut through a metal barrier in order to attack the bus driver. He was then able to escape near Centerville, officials said.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Monday’s inmate transports were suspended while it conducts “a thorough review of its transportation procedures.”
According to the agency, extra security will be provided if an emergency medical situation or another reason requires transport.
Officials are still investigating the circumstances of the escape. The hand of the corrections officer was stabbed. There were no other injuries. The other inmates aboard the bus remained in the restraints and none of them escaped.
According to the Criminal Justice Department, it is currently conducting a review of the escape and will invite an outside company to do an additional review.
According to the Leon County sheriff’s office, Lopez is suspected to have broken into a house and taken guns with him. He then killed a 66 year-old man, an 18 year-old, and three children.
Lopez was seen later in the evening driving a truck that had been taken from his home. Officials have confirmed that Lopez was chased and eventually died in a shootout in Jourdanton, Atascosa County.
