Southwest
Career criminal accused of killing elderly woman in violent home invasion after skipping court days earlier
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A Texas man with three prior convictions is back behind bars after allegedly gunning down an elderly woman during a home invasion earlier this week, just days after authorities signed a warrant for his arrest after reportedly failing to appear in court.
Richard Mouton, 34, and Tajuana Thomas, 38, are charged with capital murder after allegedly shooting a 72-year-old woman to death at her home in Houston’s Kashmere Gardens neighborhood on Monday, the Houston Police Department said in a statement.
The identity of the victim has not yet been released by authorities.
Witnesses told authorities that Thomas had been angry with the victim after she previously refused to bail Thomas out of jail, while adding the two “argued about it all the time,” Click2Houston reported.
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Richard Mouton, 34, is charged with capital murder after allegedly shooting a 72-year-old woman to death in a home invasion in Houston, Texas on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, according to authorities. (Houston Police Department)
The incident unfolded around 1:50 a.m. on Monday, when both masked suspects allegedly entered through an unlocked backdoor of the victim’s residence – where Thomas previously lived – and found the victim asleep on a couch, according to the outlet.
The pair reportedly demanded jewelry from the victim and pointed an AR-style rifle at her, leading to a shootout between both suspects and the 72-year-old woman.
The victim shot Thomas in the hip and Mouton in the face with a revolver, before being killed by gunfire, the outlet reported.
CALIFORNIA DRIVER ALLEGEDLY KILLS 2 MORE PEOPLE WHILE OUT ON BAIL FOR PREVIOUS FATAL CRASH
Tajuana Thomas, 38, is charged with capital murder after allegedly shooting a 72-year-old woman to death in a home invasion in Houston, Texas on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, according to authorities. (Houston Police Department)
Both suspects were subsequently transported to a local hospital, while the victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.
The alleged deadly home invasion is reportedly not the first time either suspect has had a run-in with the law.
At the time of the shooting, Thomas was out on bond stemming from a misdemeanor terroristic threat charge, Click2Houston reported.
BALTIMORE KILLER COMMITS THIRD MURDER AFTER BEING PAROLED TWICE FOR PRIOR SLAYINGS
Richard Mouton and Tajuana Thomas are accused of gunning down a 72-year-old woman in an alleged home invasion following a reported dispute in Houston, Texas on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (iStock)
Court records reportedly show in 2022, a victim told authorities that Thomas had been fired from her job before returning to her former place of employment and telling the victim she was going to “beat his a–.”
Meanwhile, Mouton was handed down a 60-day jail sentence in 2023 after being convicted of felony evading arrest while he was out on parole, according to FOX 26.
Mouton’s parole later ended in 2024, Click2Houston reported.
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In July 2025, Mouton was reportedly arrested and charged with felon in possession of a weapon, evading arrest and drug possession.
Court records reportedly indicate he allegedly ran 1,500 feet from a traffic stop while carrying more than 100 grams of marijuana, nearly 12 grams of Xanax, 5 grams of ecstasy, 3.4 grams of cocaine, over 24 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm.
While Mouton had been out on bond since about a week after his arrest, records show he failed to appear in court on Jan. 22, the outlet reported.
His failure to appear reportedly resulted in authorities issuing a warrant for his arrest just two days before the alleged deadly home invasion.
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“It’s always disturbing that you could be on parole, get a felony conviction, and still be on parole and not have your parole revoked,” Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers told FOX 26.
The Harris County Prosecutor’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s comment regarding both Mouton and Thomas’ previous parole decisions prior to the alleged murder.
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Loved ones are searching for two Southern California girls who have been missing for nearly two weeks.
Aurora Brunner, 13, and Lexi Boykin, 14, were last seen leaving a home in Redlands on May 15, the Redlands Police Department said.
The girls left the home around 2:30 a.m. and were both wearing backpacks at the time.
Family members said the girls were possibly headed to Pasadena, San Francisco or Texas when they disappeared.
They have not been heard from or seen since and their families are very concerned for their well-being.
Brunner is a white female who stands 5 feet tall and weighs 100 pounds. She has blue eyes and blonde hair.
Boykin is a white female who stands 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. She has blue eyes, blonde hair and wears prescription eyeglasses.
Anyone who may know the girls’ whereabouts or has information on the case can call Detective Thomas Williams at 909-335-4777 or email twilliams@redlandspolice.org.
Little India spans just five blocks along Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia, but its sights and sounds can make visitors feel transported to South Asia without leaving Southern California. The vibrant enclave is filled with family-owned restaurants, bustling markets, jewelry shops, and colorful clothing stores that offer an authentic cultural experience.
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, KTLA’s Angeli Kakade explored the community and the pride residents take in preserving their South Asian roots. One of them is Arjana Vig, owner of Mancha Designs, a bridal and fusionwear boutique inspired by her journey from New Delhi to Southern California in the 1990s.
Los Angeles, Ca
Ex-employee charged with stealing $1 million in model car collectibles from SoCal factory
A former MGA Entertainment employee was charged with stealing over $1 million in diecast model car collectibles from the company’s factory in the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
The DA says that on Feb. 14, at approximately 4:30 p.m., 55-year-old Simi Valley resident Luis Tanahara allegedly stole CarTuned collectibles valued at approximately $500,000 from a shipping container at the factory in Chatsworth and loaded the items in his personal vehicle.
He was reportedly employed as a senior product designer for the company at the time.
Then, on March 4, investigators seized over $1 million in CarTuned collectibles from his residence.
The cars are highly valued by hobbyists and collectors, especially when sold in surprise “Master Packs.”
The case was filed for warrant on April 7, and Tanahara was arrested and pleaded not guilty during an arraignment on April 10. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to stay away from MGA Entertainment, the DA said.
A preliminary hearing is set for May 27 at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
Tanahara is being charged with one felony count of grand theft and one felony count of receiving stolen property with special allegations that he stole property valued at over $1 million. If convicted, he faces up to six years in state prison.
“My prosecutors do not come to play: If you steal collectible toy cars or any cargo from our ports, you will be fully prosecuted,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “Diecast cars are not everyday toys or merchandise with a set retail value, they are prized collectibles with a potentially infinite value to a collector, representing a tremendous loss for the victim. My office will continue to fight for our local businesses and hold retail thieves accountable.”
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