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Texas homeowner dies defending herself from masked intruders
29 Jan
Summary
- A 72-year-old Texas woman died defending her home from two masked intruders.
- The woman fatally shot both intruders during a home invasion.
- One intruder had recently lived in the victim's home due to a dispute.
In Houston, a 72-year-old homeowner, identified as Linda Martinez, was killed on Monday, January 26, during a shootout with two masked intruders. The invasion began around 1:50 a.m. when the suspects entered through an unlocked backdoor and confronted Martinez, who was asleep. After demanding jewelry, the suspects reportedly aimed an AR-style rifle at her. Martinez retrieved her own firearm and engaged in a gunfight, sustaining fatal injuries.
Authorities arrived to find all three individuals injured. While Martinez was pronounced deceased at the scene, the intruders, Tajauna Thomas and Richard Mouton, sustained gunshot wounds to the hip and face, respectively. Both remain hospitalized but are expected to recover. Investigators are exploring a potential motive linked to Thomas, who had previously resided in Martinez's home and allegedly moved out due to a dispute over bail.
Court records reveal that Thomas was on bond for a terroristic threat charge, while Mouton, a convicted felon, had a history of drug and weapon possession charges. He was also recently facing new charges including drug possession, firearm possession, and evading arrest, and had failed to appear in court. Police are investigating whether these suspects are connected to other recent break-ins in the area.
