Man Charged with Murder After Home Invasion

A 34-year-old man with a criminal record is back in custody, accused of shooting and killing a 72-year-old woman during a home invasion in Houston earlier this week. This incident occurred just days after authorities issued a warrant for his arrest when he didn’t show up for court.

On Monday, Houston police announced that Richard Mouton and 38-year-old Tafana Thomas face capital murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting in the Cashmere Gardens neighborhood. The woman’s identity has not been disclosed yet.

According to witness accounts, tensions had escalated between the victim and Thomas over bail money, prompting a heated argument before the crime. It was reported that Thomas had been upset with the victim for refusing to post bail for him.

The incident took place around 1:50 a.m. when two masked men entered the home through an unlocked back door. They found the victim asleep on the couch and demanded jewelry, threatening her with an AR-style rifle. A shootout ensued, during which the victim managed to shoot both intruders—Thomas in the hip and Mouton in the face—before succumbing to her injuries.

Both men were hospitalized, but unfortunately, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. This wasn’t the first encounter with the law for either suspect. Just before the shooting, Thomas was reportedly out on bail for a misdemeanor charge involving terroristic threats.

Records indicate that the victim had previously expressed concerns about Thomas, claiming he threatened her after being fired from a job. Mouton, for his part, had a history that included a felony charge of evading arrest and running into legal troubles in 2025 related to drug possession and fleeing a traffic stop while in possession of multiple illegal substances.

It’s believed that he was released on bail a week after that arrest but failed to appear in court on January 22, leading to the warrant just days before the fatal incident.

In light of these developments, Crime Stoppers spokesperson Andy Kahan mentioned the unsettling nature of having individuals like Mouton, with serious convictions, not having their parole revoked. Meanwhile, the Harris County Prosecutor’s Office has not responded regarding previous parole decisions related to both men.