Teen Charged With Capital Murder in Deadly Houston Club Shooting

Arrest Made in Tragic Shooting Case

More than six months after a deadly mass shooting at an illegal teen club in Houston left two teenagers dead and four others wounded, police have arrested and charged a suspect in the case. Jakorian Mouton, 19, has been charged with capital murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the Dec. 14, 2024, shooting. On Tuesday (June 9) Beaumont police department officers, along with members of the Southeast Texas Violent Crime Taskforce, arrested Mouton and he was subsequently charged for his role in the fatal shooting.

The shooting occurred at "The Curfew Club," a pop-up venue that advertised itself on social media as "the hottest teen club in Houston." Houston police were called to a shooting in progress just before 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, to Jensen Drive at Topping Street, which is just off of Eastex Freeway and near the intersection with Parker Road, in north Houston. When authorities arrived, they saw a large number of juveniles and young adults running from the venue.

The victims included 16-year-old Randle King was pronounced dead at the scene and A'Ziria Bankhead, 14, was also killed in the shooting. One of the injured victims was reported to be just 13 years old. King's mother revealed that her son, an aspiring musician, had attended the event to perform but never got the chance to take the stage before the violence erupted.

Investigation and Witness Accounts

The investigation took more than six months to identify the suspect. According to investigators, multiple witnesses reported seeing a tall, thin male dressed in all black clothing, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and face mask, firing a handgun into the crowd before fleeing. Detectives later identified Mouton as the suspected gunman.

Houston police say it took more than a year, but they developed evidence linking Mouton to the shootings. The suspect was already on probation for previous crimes when the shooting occurred. KFDM learned Mouton had been placed on five years probation in 20-24 for two Hardin County cases: Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and Theft of a Firearm.

Illegal Venue Operations

The tragedy highlighted serious concerns about unlicensed venues operating in Houston. According to Houston Public Works, inspectors visited the building days after the shooting and determined the club was operating illegally. City records showed the last application for a certificate of occupancy was filed in October 2023. An inspection conducted in February 2024 identified deficiencies that needed to be corrected, but the project became inactive after the issues were not addressed.

Witnesses told KPRC 2 that attendees were charged a cover fee to enter the event and an additional fee for guests who brought their own alcohol. The venue operated without proper permits or safety oversight, creating dangerous conditions for the young people who attended. Houston Mayor John Whitmire also responded to the scene and called the shooting a preventable tragedy. "We lost some young people tonight that was very preventable, if they didn't come to locations such as this," Whitmire said.

Impact on Families and Community

The shooting devastated families and raised urgent questions about youth safety at unsanctioned venues. King's mother shared that her son had dreams of a music career, describing him as someone who "just always loved music." The tragedy robbed him of the opportunity to pursue those dreams and took away her only son.

This case underscores the critical need for proper venue licensing and safety regulations, particularly for events targeting young people. As Houston continues to grapple with illegal pop-up clubs advertised through social media, the arrest of Mouton represents a step toward justice for the victims' families, though the broader issue of unlicensed venues remains a community safety concern that demands ongoing attention from city officials and law enforcement.