The fatal Westchase gunfire killed 25-year-old rider Caitlin Stup and injured a 16-year-old boy, according to investigators.
HOUSTON, Texas — Court records reviewed Friday show an 18-year-old accused of carrying a weapon during this week’s METRO bus killing was already free on bond in a separate aggravated robbery case, while a 17-year-old defendant charged with murder refused to appear for his initial hearing, officials said.
The updates come two days after gunfire broke out on a Route 161 bus along Richmond Avenue near Walnut Bend in west Houston, leaving one passenger dead and another wounded. Houston police identified the victim as Caitlin Stup, 25. Prosecutors charged Brayden Smith, 17, with murder and Patrick Scott, 18, with unlawful carry of a weapon. Prosecutors said Scott’s earlier bond barred him from possessing a gun. Investigators have not identified a final motive but believe an argument on the bus escalated quickly before shots were fired. The driver halted the bus and evacuated riders as officers responded and established a search perimeter through a nearby apartment complex.
In a Friday morning hearing, prosecutors told a judge that Smith was being uncooperative in custody and failed to come to court. They said they will seek a $1 million bond and strict conditions in the event of release. Scott appeared in court, where prosecutors outlined his prior case and said they would move to revoke the earlier bond because of the new charge. Detectives are reviewing internal bus video and external surveillance from businesses along Richmond. Authorities said the 16-year-old boy injured in the shooting arrived at a hospital by private vehicle shortly after the attack; his condition has not been publicly updated.
Officials said the shooting happened around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday as the bus traveled west. Passengers reported a brief argument before one teenager displayed a firearm and fired two shots. Stup was struck in the head and later died at a hospital. The teen boy was also hit. Witnesses described panic as riders crouched behind seats while the driver opened the doors and directed people off. METRO and HPD units flooded the corridor as air and K-9 teams searched for suspects. By late Thursday, authorities announced the arrest of two teenagers and the filing of charges. Police also circulated images of two persons of interest earlier in the day to generate tips.
Records presented in court state that Scott’s prior aggravated robbery case stemmed from an incident last year and included a no-weapons condition. Prosecutors said they will seek to revoke that bond and press for monitoring and travel limits if he is released on the weapons case. For Smith, officials said a detention review may be set next week if he continues to refuse transport. Investigators are awaiting ballistics results to confirm which weapon fired the fatal round and whether any additional rounds were recovered on the bus. Detectives are also working to determine how the gun was obtained and whether other adults could face charges.
METRO officials said they are assessing security staffing and the placement of uniformed officers on routes that pass through busy corridors like Richmond near Beltway 8. The agency said it will coordinate with HPD to evaluate video retention policies and response times. Riders at nearby stops on Friday morning placed flowers and a handwritten note with Stup’s name at a bus shelter. “She was just going about her day,” said commuter David Nguyen, who uses the route to get to work. “It shouldn’t happen on public transit.” A shop owner along the route said officers requested overnight access to exterior cameras to capture the bus as it passed around 2:30 p.m.
As of Friday evening, both teens remained jailed as prosecutors prepared bond motions and investigators continued interviews with passengers who left before officers arrived. A court update is expected early next week, including decisions on bond revocation for Scott and any adjustments to Smith’s bond request. The homicide investigation remains active.
Author note: Last updated January 9, 2026.