A Texas inmate serving life for murder managed to break free from his shackles, overpower a bus driver and escape from custody, officials said.
Highlights
- Gonzalo Lopez, 46, was on a transport bus en route from Gatesville to Huntsville for a medical appointment when he escaped.
- Lopez cut out the bottom of a door that separates inmates and the driver, Texas Department of Criminal Justice says.
- Lopez is serving a life sentence for a capital murder in Hidalgo County and an attempted capital murder.
- The reward has grown to $50,000 for information leading to his capture, the department announced Saturday night.
- The officer driving the bus was stabbed in the hand and punctured in the chest, suffering non-life-threatening injuries, Texas officials say.
- The other inmates remain on board.