Houston, Texas — A Houston man has been charged with murder months after a brutal attack on a 90-year-old convenience store owner who was allegedly beaten and stabbed inside his own home during a robbery.
Authorities announced that Anthony Cerda, 34, was arrested and charged in connection with the death of Francisco Chura, a longtime business owner who succumbed to his injuries weeks after the violent assault.
The arrest follows a lengthy investigation that detectives say ultimately connected Cerda to the crime through DNA evidence and witness statements.
Elderly Store Owner Attacked While Sleeping
According to investigators, the attack occurred during the night of August 20, 2025.
Chura was asleep inside his residence, which was attached to a convenience store he had owned and operated for decades in the Houston area.
Court documents allege that Cerda entered the home and launched a violent assault on the elderly man.
Authorities say the suspect jumped on top of Chura, repeatedly punched him, and stabbed him multiple times with a screwdriver.
Despite suffering severe injuries, Chura reportedly managed to survive the attack.
Investigators said he later told them that he pretended to be dead until the attacker left the property. Fearing for his life, Chura then hid in a bathroom until daylight before seeking help from a neighbor.
Victim Died Weeks After Assault
When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered evidence of a violent struggle.
Police reported finding blood-soaked bedding, a bent screwdriver covered in blood, and an open safe inside the residence.
According to investigators, approximately $3,000 in cash was missing from the safe.
Chura was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries. Although he initially survived, his condition worsened over time.
Authorities later confirmed that he died on September 7, several weeks after the attack, as a result of the injuries he suffered.
His death transformed the investigation into a homicide case.
DNA Evidence Helped Identify Suspect
A major breakthrough came earlier this month when forensic testing allegedly linked Cerda to the weapon recovered from the crime scene.
According to investigators, laboratory analysis found DNA belonging to both Chura and Cerda on the bloodied screwdriver.
The discovery provided detectives with critical evidence as they worked to identify the person responsible for the attack.
Authorities also uncovered additional information through witness interviews conducted throughout the investigation.
Witnesses Provided Key Information
Court records reveal that several people came forward with information that helped investigators piece together the events surrounding Chura’s death.
One witness reportedly told police that Chura had mentioned giving money to an unidentified man shortly before the attack. According to the witness, that individual later returned demanding additional money, but Chura refused.
Investigators also learned about a man with long hair — matching the description Chura allegedly provided of his attacker — who was later found hiding in a crawl space near the victim’s neighborhood.
The homeowner reportedly identified the man as her nephew, Anthony Cerda.
She also told investigators that Chura had occasionally loaned money to Cerda in the past. Another witness claimed that after the attack, Cerda allegedly made a shocking confession while using drugs.
According to court documents, the witness told police that Cerda said, “I killed Pancho,” a nickname used for Chura.
Community Remembers Longtime Business Owner
The murder stunned residents who knew Chura and his decades-long presence in the community.
Neighbors described him as a familiar and respected figure whose convenience store had become a neighborhood landmark over the years.
“Everybody knew him. Everybody grew up with him,” one neighbor said. “Everybody was surprised when that happened.”
Cerda was being held in the Harris County Jail as of Monday while the criminal case moves forward.
Meanwhile, Chura’s family, friends, and longtime customers continue to mourn the loss of a man many considered a beloved member of the community.
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