Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott drew sharp criticism for referring to the five people who were killed in a mass shooting in Cleveland, Texas last week as "illegal immigrants."
Abbott in a statement on Friday offered condolences to the victims' families and posted a $50,000 reward for information about the shooter.
"Governor Greg Abbott today announced a $50,000 reward for a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) top 10 fugitive who is in the country illegally and killed five illegal immigrants in a shooting Friday night in Cleveland, Texas," read a statement from Abbott's Twitter account.
I’ve announced a $50K reward for info on the criminal who killed 5 illegal immigrants Friday. Also directed #OperationLoneStar to be on the lookout.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 30, 2023
I continue working with state & local officials to ensure all available resources are deployed to respond. pic.twitter.com/SpkUgKqKGe
On Friday, an intoxicated man fatally shot his neighbors, including an 8-year-old boy, with an AR-15-style rifle after they asked him to stop shooting his gun in the air.
"My understanding is that the victims, they came over to the fence and said 'Hey could [you not do your] shooting out in the yard? We have a young baby that's trying to go to sleep. And he had been drinking, and he says 'I'll do what I want to in my front yard,'" San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers told KRTK, a local ABC News affiliate in Houston.
Authorities have not yet released the immigration status of the victims, though immigration rights activist Carlos Eduardo Espina reported that one of the victims was a legal resident.
I just spoke to the husband of one of the victims. He confirmed to me that his wife was a permanent resident of the US. He even sent me a picture of her ID confirming this.
— Carlos Eduardo Espina (@cespina1998) May 1, 2023
But I guess to Greg Abbott, anyone who is from another country is an ‘ilegal immigrant’. Shameful. https://t.co/O2AphCodlh pic.twitter.com/YjGLdBMtRl
Immigration groups condemned Abbott's remarks.
"Public figures like Abbott leverage their status by using social media to amplify language painting a specific narrative intended to alter the way you view plus treat the people around you," the Immigrant Legal Resource Center wrote on Twitter. "The victims here were your neighbors. They were your friends. They were your colleagues."
Public figures like Abbott leverage their status by using social media to amplify language painting a specific narrative intended to alter the way you view + treat the people around you.
— Immigrant Legal Resource Center (@the_ILRC) April 30, 2023
The victims here were your neighbors.
They were your friends.
They were your colleagues.
"When we read things like that statement from Abbott and his social media team we are confronted with a choice," a separate tweet read. "Do we want to live in a world where people are not granted their dignity and humanity even in the face of unimaginable tragedy? Or do we want — this?"
When we read things like that statement from Abbott and his social media team we are confronted with a choice.
— Immigrant Legal Resource Center (@the_ILRC) April 30, 2023
Do we want to live in a world where people are not granted their dignity and humanity even in the face of unimaginable tragedy?
Or do we want — this?
"Five human beings lost their lives and Greg Abbott insists on labeling them 'illegal immigrants,'" said Julian Castro, former Housing and Urban Development secretary and Democratic presidential candidate.
Authorities currently do not have any leads on where the suspect, 38-year-old Francisco Oropesa, could be.
"Right now, we just don't know because if we did, we would have him in custody right now," FBI Special Agent James Smith said. "We do not know where he is, we do not have any tips right now of where he may be."
