Gonzalo Lopez
Mass Murderer and Fugitive
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Weslaco, Texas
TIME PERIOD
2005-2022
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
Gonzalo Lopez, an American fugitive and convicted mass murderer, was involved in a series of violent crimes spanning from 2005 to 2022. In 2005, he kidnapped and murdered 37-year-old Jose Guadalupe Ramirez in Weslaco, Texas, leading to a life sentence for capital murder. After escaping from prison custody in May 2022, Lopez evaded law enforcement for three weeks before breaking into a ranch in Jourdanton, Texas, on June 2, 2022, where he murdered five members of the same family, including three children. The incident culminated in a police shootout that resulted in Lopez's death from gunshot wounds later that same day. The case remains significant due to the brutality of the crimes and the extensive manhunt that followed his escape.
Some believe that Gonzalo Lopez's violent tendencies were exacerbated by his troubled past and early criminal record, which included multiple convictions before his mass murders. There is speculation that his escape from prison and subsequent murder spree were premeditated acts fueled by a desire for revenge against the system that incarcerated him. Additionally, some theorize that Lopez may have been targeting families specifically, as evidenced by the brutal nature of the murders at the ranch.
The Deadly Escapades of Gonzalo Lopez
Background
Gonzalo Artemio Lopez was born on February 10, 1976, in Weslaco, Texas. Throughout his life, he would become known by several names—Artemio Gonzalo Lopez, Ganzo Lopez, Gonzo Lopez, and Gonzol Lopez—but none would instill more fear than his reputation as a fugitive and mass murderer. His criminal endeavors spanned from 2005 to 2022, culminating in a tragic series of events that shook Texas to its core.
Early Criminal History
Lopez's pathway to infamy began in 1994. At just 18 years old, he was convicted of aggravated assault, possession of marijuana, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and a hit-and-run incident. By 1996, these charges earned him an eight-year prison sentence. This marked the beginning of a long and troubled relationship with the law.
A Deadly Pursuit
On May 11, 2004, Lopez found himself in another precarious situation. As a passenger in a car speeding through Zapata County, he became embroiled in a high-speed chase when police attempted to pull the vehicle over. The pursuit, spanning multiple counties, escalated as both Lopez and the driver opened fire on pursuing officers. Though the driver was apprehended and sentenced to sixty years for attempted capital murder, Lopez managed to evade capture.
The 2005 Murder
The following year, on March 23, 2005, Lopez's criminal activities took a deadly turn. Alongside an accomplice known only as "Rick," Lopez broke into the home of Jose Guadalupe Ramirez in Weslaco, Texas. The duo, armed and dangerous, kidnapped Ramirez after tying him up and threatening his wife at gunpoint. Despite a fleeting phone call where Ramirez assured his wife he was alright, communication ceased, prompting her to report the kidnapping to the police the next day.
Lopez and Rick were operating under orders from Juan Lerma, leader of the La Mana drug cartel in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Ramirez reportedly owed the cartel $40,000. After keeping Ramirez hostage for ransom at Lopez's mother's home, Lopez and Rick turned over three trucks to Lerma, while they pocketed the money and drugs. Ultimately, Lopez followed Lerma’s orders to kill Ramirez, ending his life with a pickax and burying him in a wooded area. An autopsy later confirmed that Ramirez died from three chop-type wounds to the head.
Capture and Trial
In April 2005, a confidential informant's tip led to Lopez's arrest. Ramirez's wife identified him as one of the kidnappers. Lopez eventually revealed the burial site of Ramirez's body but remained tight-lipped about Rick's identity. By February 14, 2006, Lopez was on trial for capital murder. Two days later, he was convicted of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping, receiving a life sentence. His accomplice Rick vanished into the shadows, never found or identified.
Further investigations uncovered Lopez's participation in the 2004 police chase and shooting. Consequently, on December 13, 2007, he was found guilty of attempted capital murder of a police officer, tacking on another life sentence.
The Great Escape
May 12, 2022, marked another turning point for Lopez. While being transported for a medical appointment on a Texas Department of Criminal Justice bus, he executed a daring escape. Unshackling himself, he used a sharp object to cut through a metal door, separating him from the driver. In a brazen move, he stabbed the corrections officer at the wheel. The bus halted, and a struggle ensued, but Lopez managed to commandeer the vehicle and drive a mile before crashing it, disappearing into the woods.
The following day, Lopez's name appeared on the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List, with a $50,000 reward on his head. Fortunately, the officers involved recovered, and the driver’s injuries were not life-threatening.
The 2022 Massacre
On June 2, 2022, Lopez emerged in Centerville, Texas, where he invaded the Collins family's ranch. In a horrifying spree, he murdered 66-year-old Mark Collins and his four grandchildren—Waylon, Carson, Hudson, and Bryson—all of whom were under 18. The crime scene was gruesome, with each victim succumbing to a combination of gunshot and stab wounds. Lopez made off with weapons, including an AR-15, and the family’s white pickup truck.
A relative, concerned after losing contact with Mark Collins, alerted the authorities. When police arrived around 6 p.m., they discovered the tragic scene. Immediately, Lopez became the primary suspect, and a statewide alert was issued for the stolen pickup, a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado.
Final Confrontation
The manhunt reached its climax later that day when a deputy sheriff in Atascosa County spotted the stolen truck. Following a tactical plan, officers allowed Lopez to enter Jourdanton before deploying spike strips that disabled his vehicle. Undeterred, Lopez opened fire on the pursuing officers with the AR-15, losing control and crashing into a utility pole and fence.
Lopez exited the truck, continuing to shoot at law enforcement. Four officers returned fire, fatally wounding him. Though bullets shattered a patrol vehicle's windshield, no officers were harmed.
Aftermath
The deadly episode prompted the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to suspend inmate transports as they reviewed transportation procedures. The tragic loss of the Collins family and the dramatic conclusion of Lopez’s life left an indelible mark on the community and law enforcement alike.
Sources
For further reading and references, please visit the Wikipedia article.
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First Murder Committed
Gonzalo Lopez kidnaps and murders Jose Guadalupe Ramirez in Weslaco, Texas.
Lopez Arrested
Lopez is arrested following a tip and identified by Ramirez's wife in a police lineup.
Trial Begins
Lopez's trial for capital murder begins in Texas.
Convicted of Murder
Lopez is found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Prison Escape
Lopez escapes from a prison transport bus after assaulting a corrections officer.
Family Murdered
Lopez breaks into a ranch and murders five members of the Collins family.
Police Shootout
Lopez is fatally shot by police after a high-speed chase and shootout.
Transport Procedures Reviewed
Texas Department of Criminal Justice announces a review of inmate transport procedures.
Gonzalo Lopez, an American fugitive and convicted mass murderer, was involved in a series of violent crimes spanning from 2005 to 2022. In 2005, he kidnapped and murdered 37-year-old Jose Guadalupe Ramirez in Weslaco, Texas, leading to a life sentence for capital murder. After escaping from prison custody in May 2022, Lopez evaded law enforcement for three weeks before breaking into a ranch in Jourdanton, Texas, on June 2, 2022, where he murdered five members of the same family, including three children. The incident culminated in a police shootout that resulted in Lopez's death from gunshot wounds later that same day. The case remains significant due to the brutality of the crimes and the extensive manhunt that followed his escape.
Some believe that Gonzalo Lopez's violent tendencies were exacerbated by his troubled past and early criminal record, which included multiple convictions before his mass murders. There is speculation that his escape from prison and subsequent murder spree were premeditated acts fueled by a desire for revenge against the system that incarcerated him. Additionally, some theorize that Lopez may have been targeting families specifically, as evidenced by the brutal nature of the murders at the ranch.
The Deadly Escapades of Gonzalo Lopez
Background
Gonzalo Artemio Lopez was born on February 10, 1976, in Weslaco, Texas. Throughout his life, he would become known by several names—Artemio Gonzalo Lopez, Ganzo Lopez, Gonzo Lopez, and Gonzol Lopez—but none would instill more fear than his reputation as a fugitive and mass murderer. His criminal endeavors spanned from 2005 to 2022, culminating in a tragic series of events that shook Texas to its core.
Early Criminal History
Lopez's pathway to infamy began in 1994. At just 18 years old, he was convicted of aggravated assault, possession of marijuana, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and a hit-and-run incident. By 1996, these charges earned him an eight-year prison sentence. This marked the beginning of a long and troubled relationship with the law.
A Deadly Pursuit
On May 11, 2004, Lopez found himself in another precarious situation. As a passenger in a car speeding through Zapata County, he became embroiled in a high-speed chase when police attempted to pull the vehicle over. The pursuit, spanning multiple counties, escalated as both Lopez and the driver opened fire on pursuing officers. Though the driver was apprehended and sentenced to sixty years for attempted capital murder, Lopez managed to evade capture.
The 2005 Murder
The following year, on March 23, 2005, Lopez's criminal activities took a deadly turn. Alongside an accomplice known only as "Rick," Lopez broke into the home of Jose Guadalupe Ramirez in Weslaco, Texas. The duo, armed and dangerous, kidnapped Ramirez after tying him up and threatening his wife at gunpoint. Despite a fleeting phone call where Ramirez assured his wife he was alright, communication ceased, prompting her to report the kidnapping to the police the next day.
Lopez and Rick were operating under orders from Juan Lerma, leader of the La Mana drug cartel in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Ramirez reportedly owed the cartel $40,000. After keeping Ramirez hostage for ransom at Lopez's mother's home, Lopez and Rick turned over three trucks to Lerma, while they pocketed the money and drugs. Ultimately, Lopez followed Lerma’s orders to kill Ramirez, ending his life with a pickax and burying him in a wooded area. An autopsy later confirmed that Ramirez died from three chop-type wounds to the head.
Capture and Trial
In April 2005, a confidential informant's tip led to Lopez's arrest. Ramirez's wife identified him as one of the kidnappers. Lopez eventually revealed the burial site of Ramirez's body but remained tight-lipped about Rick's identity. By February 14, 2006, Lopez was on trial for capital murder. Two days later, he was convicted of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping, receiving a life sentence. His accomplice Rick vanished into the shadows, never found or identified.
Further investigations uncovered Lopez's participation in the 2004 police chase and shooting. Consequently, on December 13, 2007, he was found guilty of attempted capital murder of a police officer, tacking on another life sentence.
The Great Escape
May 12, 2022, marked another turning point for Lopez. While being transported for a medical appointment on a Texas Department of Criminal Justice bus, he executed a daring escape. Unshackling himself, he used a sharp object to cut through a metal door, separating him from the driver. In a brazen move, he stabbed the corrections officer at the wheel. The bus halted, and a struggle ensued, but Lopez managed to commandeer the vehicle and drive a mile before crashing it, disappearing into the woods.
The following day, Lopez's name appeared on the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List, with a $50,000 reward on his head. Fortunately, the officers involved recovered, and the driver’s injuries were not life-threatening.
The 2022 Massacre
On June 2, 2022, Lopez emerged in Centerville, Texas, where he invaded the Collins family's ranch. In a horrifying spree, he murdered 66-year-old Mark Collins and his four grandchildren—Waylon, Carson, Hudson, and Bryson—all of whom were under 18. The crime scene was gruesome, with each victim succumbing to a combination of gunshot and stab wounds. Lopez made off with weapons, including an AR-15, and the family’s white pickup truck.
A relative, concerned after losing contact with Mark Collins, alerted the authorities. When police arrived around 6 p.m., they discovered the tragic scene. Immediately, Lopez became the primary suspect, and a statewide alert was issued for the stolen pickup, a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado.
Final Confrontation
The manhunt reached its climax later that day when a deputy sheriff in Atascosa County spotted the stolen truck. Following a tactical plan, officers allowed Lopez to enter Jourdanton before deploying spike strips that disabled his vehicle. Undeterred, Lopez opened fire on the pursuing officers with the AR-15, losing control and crashing into a utility pole and fence.
Lopez exited the truck, continuing to shoot at law enforcement. Four officers returned fire, fatally wounding him. Though bullets shattered a patrol vehicle's windshield, no officers were harmed.
Aftermath
The deadly episode prompted the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to suspend inmate transports as they reviewed transportation procedures. The tragic loss of the Collins family and the dramatic conclusion of Lopez’s life left an indelible mark on the community and law enforcement alike.
Sources
For further reading and references, please visit the Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murder Committed
Gonzalo Lopez kidnaps and murders Jose Guadalupe Ramirez in Weslaco, Texas.
Lopez Arrested
Lopez is arrested following a tip and identified by Ramirez's wife in a police lineup.
Trial Begins
Lopez's trial for capital murder begins in Texas.
Convicted of Murder
Lopez is found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Prison Escape
Lopez escapes from a prison transport bus after assaulting a corrections officer.
Family Murdered
Lopez breaks into a ranch and murders five members of the Collins family.
Police Shootout
Lopez is fatally shot by police after a high-speed chase and shootout.
Transport Procedures Reviewed
Texas Department of Criminal Justice announces a review of inmate transport procedures.