More than a year after gunfire ripped through a pop-up teen party in north Houston, killing two teenagers and wounding several others, police say they finally have a suspect in custody. Authorities have identified 19-year-old Jakorian Mouton as the accused shooter; he is charged with capital murder and tampering with evidence and is being held in the Jefferson County Jail. Investigators say the arrest marks the first major break in a case that began with chaos inside a makeshift "teen club" on Dec. 14, 2024.
Mouton was arrested in Beaumont on June 9, 2026, with help from the Southeast Texas Violent Crime Task Force and taken to Jefferson County, according to Click2Houston. Prosecutors have charged him with capital murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the Jensen Drive shooting, authorities said.
What Happened On Dec. 14, 2024
According to the Houston Police Department, shots rang out around 11:20 p.m. during an event called The Curfew Club inside a vacant commercial building at 10126 Jensen Drive, sending hundreds of young people sprinting for the exits. Local reporting and the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences identify the two teenagers killed as 16-year-old Randle King and 14-year-old A'Ziria Bankhead. At least four other young women were hospitalized, some in serious condition, according to the Houston Chronicle. Investigators described the aftermath as chaotic and said gathering surveillance footage would be difficult because the party was held inside an otherwise empty building.
Venue Had No Valid Permit, City Records Show
City inspectors later told reporters the Curfew Club was operating without a valid certificate of occupancy. Records show the last application on file was submitted in October 2023 and that a February 2024 inspection left the project inactive. After the shooting, city officials posted a notice on the building and gave the operators seven days to respond, according to Click2Houston.
Witnesses, Social Posts Complicated The Probe
Witnesses told detectives they saw a tall, thin man dressed in all black, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a face mask, open fire with a handgun into the crowd before running away, investigators said. Police say the event was organized on social media and promoted as a teen club with a cover charge, which has made it harder to nail down exactly who was inside and what they saw, according to the Associated Press. Detectives say they are still tracking leads and have repeatedly urged anyone with video or information to come forward.
Legal Stakes For The Accused
Capital murder is a capital felony in Texas that can result in life in prison without parole or the death penalty under Texas Penal Code §19.03. Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence is a separate offense under Texas Penal Code §37.09. Prosecutors will decide how aggressively to pursue the case as investigators continue building their file.
Families And Community Reaction
Relatives and neighbors described King and Bankhead as promising young people whose lives were abruptly cut short, while community leaders called for accountability and support for the families. Mayor John Whitmire labeled the shooting a preventable tragedy and urged residents to help the investigation by sharing tips and video with police, according to the Houston Chronicle.
How To Help Investigators
The Houston Police Department is asking anyone who attended the party or who has video or information to contact the Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or to speak anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Investigators say tips and footage from phones, doorbell cameras or nearby businesses remain some of their strongest tools as the case moves forward.
