Texas officials, FBI conduct manhunt for escaped prison inmate who was serving murder sentence

Hundreds of Texas and FBI law enforcement officials are on the hunt for a dangerous escaped prisoner convicted of murder. Authorities say he is so dangerous they have raised the reward for information that leads to his capture from $22,500 to $50,000.

Gonzalo Lopez was being transported from Huntsville to Gatesville on a bus when he somehow escaped from his handcuffs and tried to attack the officer who was driving, who stopped him, but Lopez reportedly stabbed him in the hand and continued to fight with the officer on the side of the road after the bus was pulled over.

Lopez then managed to take control of the bus, driving it only a short distance before the tires, which were shot by police as he drove off, forced him to stop.

Lopez then ran off into a field on foot, according to police. He is still on the run. Texas officials have warned the public that Lopez is extremely dangerous and is known to be part of the Mexican Mafia. Authorities say they are narrowing down the search perimeter and believe Lopez is hiding in Centerville, Texas.

Lopez received two 8 year sentences in 1996 for aggravated assault, and was serving two life sentences for killing a man with a pickaxe in 2005 after holding him for ransom to settle a drug debt he owed a cartel, and for shooting a sheriff’s deputy in 2004. 

According to the Texas Department of Safety, in order to receive the reward, tipsters must submit information in one of the following ways:

• Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
• Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about and then clicking on the link under their picture.
• Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the “SUBMIT A TIP” link (under the “About” section)