A third man is now facing a capital-murder charge in the 2022 killing of a Houston homeowner who confronted masked suspects in his own driveway, marking the latest turn in a case investigators say dates back to December 2022. Authorities say the newly named suspect is currently in federal custody and is expected to be brought back to Harris County to face the charge.
Detectives have identified 25-year-old Anthony Deshone Smith as the third suspect and filed capital-murder charges against him on April 28, 2026, according to MyTexasDaily. The outlet reports that Smith is being held in federal custody and will be extradited to Harris County once that case is resolved.
Case background
The Houston Police Department says the victim, 34-year-old James Blanton, was shot after he confronted two armed, masked suspects who were attempting to get into his home. Houston Police Department news releases from December 2022 and January 2023 state that investigators later identified a vehicle linked to the scene and arrested Carl Michael McCloud Jr. Reporting by the Houston Chronicle notes that detectives also filed capital-murder charges against Derrick Wayne Castille as the investigation unfolded.
What the charge means
Under Texas law, capital murder is a capital felony that can bring either a death sentence or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if prosecutors pursue the harshest penalty, in line with Texas Penal Code §19.03. The Texas statutes spell out the aggravating factors that can elevate a murder charge to a capital offense.
Smith’s case will move into the county court system once he is transported back to Houston; MyTexasDaily reports that extradition is expected after his federal custody is resolved. Investigators are still urging anyone with information to contact the HPD Homicide Division.
