***UPDATE: Escaped killer Gonzalo Lopez is dead after a shootout with police in South Texas on Thursday, June 2nd.***

This sounds like it came from an action movie, but the situation is all too real for citizens in Central Texas. The search is on for a dangerous inmate from Gatesville, who escaped a prison bus in Leon County this week.

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KWTX is reporting that a spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice says the incident happened Thursday afternoon west of Centerville. The inmate was on the bus to travel from Gatesville to Huntsville for a medical appointment. There were 16 prisoners aboard the bus, but the only one who escaped was 46-year-old Gonzalo Lopez.

How did Gonzalo Lopez Escape?

After getting free of his restraints, Lopez overpowered the driver, stabbed him in the hand with a makeshift weapon, crashed the bus, and escaped custody, according to KHOU.

Crimes of Gonzalo Lopez

Lopez was convicted in 2006 of killing a man along the Texas-Mexico border. TDCJ says Lopez is serving a life sentence for capital murder out of Hidalgo County and attempted capital murder out of Webb County. Prison records show Lopez was most recently being held in Gatesville, over 100 miles from where authorities were searching.

Search for Gonzalo Lopez

Lopez also has cartel ties, and is considered armed and dangerous. Authorities say if you see him, lock your home or vehicle and immediately contact 911. Lopez was last spotted going west on Highway 7 about 1.5 miles from Interstate 45, according to the TDCJ press release.

Law enforcement is now offering a $50,000 reward for any information that leads to his arrest.

Texas 6 Most Wanted Fugitives

Take precaution and familiarize yourself with the following faces. These criminals are currently listed in the Texas 10 Most Wanted

Only 6 Women Are On Death Row In Texas. Here's A Look At Their Crimes.

**This story has been updated to reflect the current status of Melissa Lucio, who is scheduled to be executed on April 27th, 2022.**

**UPDATE 4/25/22: An appeals court has delayed the Texas execution of Melissa Lucio so a lower court can review her case.



Texas has the most active death chamber nationwide.

Currently, four inmates are scheduled for execution in 2022, including Melissa Lucio. She is the only woman on the current schedule.

The six women on death row in Gatesville, Texas have been incarcerated for an average of almost two decades. Continue scrolling to see their stories.

The Most Dangerous City in Texas for 2022 May Surprise You

According to FBI statistics, Texas had 438 violent crimes and 2,562 property crimes per 100,000 residents as of this year. For every 100,000 residents, there are 224 police officers statewide.

Crime rates are expressed as the number of incidents per 100,000 people.

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