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Summary: Caitlin Jacobi Stup, 25, died after being shot in the head during a gunfight on a public bus in Houston, Texas, on January 7, 2026. A 16-year-old boy was also wounded. Suspects Brayden Smith, 17, and Patrick Scott, 18, exchanged fire following a dispute; Smith faces murder charges, while Scott is charged with unlawful firearm possession. Authorities arrested both teens the next day using surveillance footage.
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HOUSTON (DailyKenn.com) — A routine bus ride turned deadly when an argument between two young men escalated into a shootout, claiming the life of a 25-year-old woman caught in the crossfire and injuring a teenage passenger, authorities said.
The incident began around 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 7 as a METRO bus paused to board passengers near the 10800 block of Richmond Avenue in west Houston. According to investigators, 17-year-old Brayden Smith entered the vehicle, proceeded down the aisle, drew a handgun and fired twice at another rider seated nearby. One of the bullets struck Caitlin Jacobi Stup in the head, killing her, while the other wounded a 16-year-old boy in the vehicle. The targeted individual, identified as 18-year-old Patrick Scott, returned fire before both fled the scene on foot, police reported.
Emergency responders arrived quickly, transporting Stup to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after. The injured boy received treatment for his wounds and was released the following day, officials confirmed.
Surveillance footage from the bus captured the sequence, aiding authorities in identifying the pair, according to court records. Houston police distributed images of the suspects to school resource officers the next morning, leading to their arrests by mid-afternoon on Jan. 8. Smith, a current student in the Alief Independent School District, and Scott, a former student there, were taken into custody without further incident.
Prosecutors charged Smith with murder, alleging he intentionally caused Stup's death by firing into a crowded bus during daylight hours. Scott faces a misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Additional accusations could follow, and authorities may invoke a state law to deny bail for violent offenses, court documents indicate.
Both teens had previous encounters with the justice system. Smith was under juvenile probation for an earlier aggravated robbery involving a deadly weapon, while Scott had been released on a reduced $15,000 bond for a similar charge just months prior, despite multiple probation violations, according to judicial records. He had appeared in court the day before the event.
Regular riders expressed shock and fear in the aftermath. One local resident near the route described feeling constantly on edge, worrying about random violence erupting at any moment. Another frequent commuter, who missed the ill-fated trip, said the event heightened concerns about safety on public transit. Bus operators reported increased vigilance, with one praising the driver's quick actions in halting the vehicle and assisting passengers to safety, as per METRO officials.
Stup, employed at a local Sweetgreen restaurant and en route to her shift, was remembered by loved ones as a vibrant person who cherished photography, her pets and preparing meals. Her mother, Rachel Stup, told reporters the family was grappling with the sudden loss, calling it premature and requesting privacy to mourn. Colleagues echoed the sentiment, noting she brought positivity to the team.
Community leaders decried the violence, with a Harris County commissioner urging protections against senseless acts amid a rise in youth-involved shootings—over 400 reported in the area last year alone. Victim advocates criticized lenient bond practices, arguing they allowed dangerous individuals freedom that contributed to the tragedy. Police emphasized the altercation stemmed from a personal dispute, not broader motives like race, despite online speculation.
The case highlights ongoing debates over juvenile justice and public safety in Houston's transit system.
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