Escaped convicted murderer fought with 2 officers, drove off in a prison bus

Authorities released new details on Wednesday about how a 46-year-old convicted murderer from Hidalgo County escaped while on his way to Huntsville for a medical appointment last week.

Officials released new photos obtained from surveillance footage that show Gonzalo Lopez being escorted to a prison bus the morning of his escape, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Lopez was being taken from the Hughes Unit in Gatesville to the Estelle Unit in Huntsville for medical reasons. While on the way to Huntsville, he was placed in a separate caged area of the bus due to his criminal history which classifies him as a “high-risk” inmate.

On the road, Lopez managed to escape the restraints and cut through “expanded metal,” the release said. He then crawled through the bottom of the cage and attacked the driver. Both Lopez and the driver got off the bus after the fight, and a second officer, who was at the rear of the bus, also got out and tried to approach Lopez.

Once both officers were off the bus, Lopez went inside the vehicle again and “began driving down the road,” the release said. The officers at the scene then shot at the bus and eventually stopped it by shooting its back tire. Lopez then drove off the road and ran into the woods off Highway 7 in Leon County. He was last seen wearing white clothing.

The case is currently under investigation. Authorities are asking those who have information to call the Texas Department of Criminal Justice OIG Crime Stoppers at (800) 832-8477 or (936) 437-5171. Authorities are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to his capture.