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10 Things You Should Know About Centerville, Texas Murders

The Centerville, Texas murders involved a family of five who were brutally murdered by a murder convict who had escaped from prison. The victims of the murders lived on a ranch. 66-year-old Mark Collins and his four grandchildren were brutally murdered by Gonzalo Lopez.

In May 2022, Gonzalo managed to escape from jail after he assaulted a Correctional police officer and escaped from the bus. Three weeks later as a fugitive, Gonzalo decided to commit the five murders at the Collins family ranch. After breaking into the ranch, Lopez managed to murder the five family members.

66-year-old Mark Collins, his four grandchildren, 18-year-old Waylon Collins, 16-year-old Carson Collins, 11-year-old Hudson Collins (who were brothers), and their cousin 11-year-old Bryson Collins were murdered. Gonzalo Lopez murdered this family by stabbing and shooting them to death.

After murdering them, he stole several guns from the ranch and the family truck. That day, a concerned relative failed to see the Collins which was alarming, and called the police. On arrival at the ranch at 6:00 p.m., the police found the five bodies of the deceased.

Immediately it was suspected that Lopez had committed the murders and his hunt began. He was cornered as he was driving the truck which led to a chase and shootout. However, Gonzalo crashed the truck into a pole and got out while firing but he was shot and killed by the four officers who were in pursuit.

Here are the 10 Things You Should Know About Centerville, Texas murders:

1. The Murders Involved Five People from the Collins Family

The Centerville, Texas murders shocked the people living in this locality because of its nature and the people who were involved. The victims were five people from the Collins family. A grandfather alongside his four grandsons was brutally murdered.

The victims of these murders were: 66-year-old Mark Collins, his four grandchildren, 18-year-old Waylon Collins, 16-year-old Carson Collins, 11-year-old Hudson Collins (who were brothers), and their cousin 11-year-old Bryson Collins.

2. They were Murdered in Their Family Ranch

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The small community of Centerville, in Leon County, Texas was shocked by the news of the gruesome murders of the five Collins. On that unfortunate day, the Collins family was attacked and murdered while at their family ranch. The ranch was located at a secluded place where no help could have arrived instantly and was close to the prison where Gonzalo had escaped from.

3. The Centerville, Texas Murders were Carried Out by a Prison Escapee

On 2nd June 2022, Gonzalo Lopez broke into the Collins family ranch. The 46-year-old man was not a person who could be called a friend because of his criminal record and crazy past.

Before committing the murders, Gonzalo had managed to escape from prison. In May, he had attacked a Correctional officer, assaulted him, and managed to escape from the prison bus. Three weeks later after becoming a fugitive, Lopez went ahead and committed the Centerville, Texas murders.

4. Gonzalo had Kidnapped & Murdered a Man before Killing the Five Collins Family Members

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The history of Gonzalo Lopez was not a simple one as he had a crazy criminal record. In 2005, he was involved in the kidnapping and murder of a man who owed a drug cartel $40,000 which he had failed to pay back. Alongside his accomplice, Gonzalo broke into the home of Ramirez and kidnapped him.

Ramirez was kept at Gonzalo鈥檚 mother鈥檚 home where they pushed his family to pay ransom. The ransom was paid but Lopez was ordered to execute and bury him. However, Gonzalo was arrested later and handed a life sentence but managed to escape and murder the five members of the Collins family.

5. The Four Boys were Proactive at School & Home Before being Murdered

The four young lives that were taken by Gonzalo hurt the people in their locality because they were known as proactive lads. They attended Tomball Independent School District with Waylon just graduated from high school.

They were active in sporting activities including football and baseball as well and they loved spending time on the ranch. Waylon also loved to go fishing on the ranch before meeting his death.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e incredibly active in the community, very well-known here, very well-beloved here. The outpouring of support from the community is not simply in response to the tragedy, but actually in response to the fact that they are just loved people.鈥� Bezner told reporters.

6. Hudson Collins had been Baptized Three Days before the Murders

The timing of the murders was very hurting as one of the victims had undergone an important step in his life. Three days before the murders, 11-year-old Hudson Collins had been baptized. He had been baptized by a family member in the family鈥檚 pool. Steve Bezner, a senior pastor at the family鈥檚 church revealed.

7. A Concerned Relative Raised Alarm before the Discovery of the Bodies

Later on that day, 2nd June 2022, little activities were going on at the Collins family鈥檚 ranch. This was a major concern to the people who knew them closely. A concerned relative raised alarm after failing to spot the Collins. At 6:00 p.m., police arrived at the ranch and found the five bodies.

8. The Collins Were Killed by Stabbing & Gunshots

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The Centerville, Texas murders were so gruesome in the manner in which they were carried out. After the arrival of police officers at the crime scene, it was time to establish how the murders were carried out.

Medical examiners gave detailed information about how the murders were carried out. It was reported that the Collins had been murdered through stabbing and shooting.

9. Gonzalo Stole Several Guns & a Truck from the Ranch before Escaping

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After committing the murders, it was time for Gonzalo Lopez to escape from the scene to avoid being captured. He did not leave the ranch empty-handed as he arrived.

Gonzalo Lopez stole several guns from the ranch including an AR-15. Other than the guns, Gonzalo stole a white pickup truck, a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado, which belonged to the grandfather, and used it to flee from the scene.

10. Lopez was Gunned Down after Failing to Escape

Photo by Mathias Reding:

Late on June 2, an Atascosa County deputy sheriff saw the pickup vehicle and verified the license plate matched the stolen one. Officers pursued Lopez and were told to hold off until he entered Jourdanton so that additional officers could help capture him. Lopez drove over spike strips that had been placed across the highway he was on, puncturing each tire in the process.

Lopez kept eluding the cops and drove through a field before entering the Jourdanton city limits. Then Lopez used an AR-15-style gun that he had taken from the property to fire at the police through the truck鈥檚 window. After that, he lost control and slammed into a fence and a utility pole.

He got out of the truck and started firing at the police. Four policemen opened fire back, killing him. During the exchange of gunfire, no officers were shot or hurt, although Lopez was able to strike the windscreen of a patrol car.

The Centerville, Texas murders were shocking to the community given that the prison is close to the locality. However, no further incident has happened while security is beefed up there.