WOODLAND PARK, Colo. (AP) — Four of the seven convicts who broke out of a Texas prison last month and allegedly gunned down a policeman on Christmas Eve were captured peacefully Monday in a foothills community south of Denver, authorities said.

Another one of the inmates killed himself after barricading himself in a mobile home, Teller County Sheriff's Office said.

The whereabouts of the two others were unknown.

Among those arrested was George Rivas, 30, the suspected ringleader who was serving a life sentence for aggravated robbery and kidnapping. Investigators have portrayed Rivas as fearless and shrewd with a powerful hold over the others.

Dougherty said three of the four were arrested as they pulled up for gasoline at a convenience store near Woodland Park, a community of several thousand people about 50 miles south of Denver.

"They were surrounded immediately by the police," said Hossein Taraghi, a Western Convenience Stores executive.

The fourth man was arrested as he left the trailer in a combination motel and mobile home park.

Texas law enforcement sources said those in custody besides Rivas were Randy Halprin, Michael Rodriguez and Joseph Garcia, while Larry Harper was believed to be in the trailer. Still unaccounted for were Patrick Murphy Jr. and Donald Newbury.

The seven broke out of the Connally Unit in Kenedy, southeast of San Antonio, on Dec. 13. The men overpowered civilian workers and a guard and stole a cache of weapons. They are also suspected in the Dec. 24 sporting goods store robbery in Irving that left a police officer, Aubrey Hawkins, dead. More guns were stolen in the holdup.

A $500,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Hawkins' killer.

Fears that the heavily armed gang was planning a showdown prompted police departments across the region to carry extra firepower and take additional precautions.

The breakout was the biggest escape from a Texas state prison in modern history. Texas had recaptured all but one of the 143 inmates who escaped from its state prisons in the past 10 years. Most were inmates who walked away from work duty or escaped alone or in a small group.

News the capture more than 800 miles away trickled through the Texas Capitol on Monday, interrupting legislative meetings as lawmakers paused to get all the information they could.

"I don't know of anyone who did not think that it would not happen at one point. The question was always when," said Ken Armbrister, the chairman of Senate Criminal Justice Committee.

Added state Sen. Carlos Truan: "I feel most relieved to know that some if not all of the escapees have been caught."
Related links: Timeline of events