HOUSTON — A woman has been arrested in connection with the deadly stabbing of a young mother who was walking to work in the Galleria area Saturday, according to HPD Chief Troy Finner.
Kayla Stevenson, 17, was on her way to work at around 11 a.m. when she was stabbed multiple times and robbed of her purse, police said.
"I'm proud and pleased to announce the arrest of that suspect this morning. ... she is in custody," Finner said.
On Wednesday night, Houston police said Kaysone Sky Blossom, 37, had been arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with Stevenson's death.
Court documents say police were able to identify Blossom as a suspect partly because of community tips. She was expected in court Thursday morning but did not appear due to a medical evaluation.
Kayla worked at Lids and the NBA store at the Galleria. Her mother said she would have turned 18 in February.
Stevenson's death
Witnesses flagged down a Houston police officer and said two women were fighting over a bag on W Alabama Street near McCue Road. The sergeant found Kayla lying on the sidewalk and she was pronounced dead.
"They took someone very important to me," Kayla's mother, Kylie, said.
Kayla left behind a 6-month-old baby and was engaged. Kylie said her younger daughters are devastated. She described Kayla as her best friend.
"She was a fun-loving, free spirit, ya know. She was goofy, she always made me laugh, she was really happy," Kylie said.
She is still in shock that her daughter was killed over a purse that her fiancé had recently given her.
"It was the stupidest thing ever. Not only did they kill her to take her purse, they took her phone they tried to use her bank card," Kylie Stevenson told us. "You continued to violate her after she had died."
The woman who police believed stabbed Kayla got away on a blue bicycle that was found abandoned nearby.
"I want this person brought to justice," Kylie said. "I hope you saw her last look in her eye, and hope it haunts you for the rest of your days."
The purse that was taken was a hot pink Juicy Couture with hearts and a rhinestone JC logo. It came with a smaller version that was a gift for the couple's baby daughter, Kalani.
Kayla's family has set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses.
Shopping safety tips
Police are urging all shoppers to be careful and be aware of their surroundings.
"We have patrols in the area already due to the holidays and we will continue to do so," Martin said. "We will have units in the area canvassing trying to find any reference to that suspect, we’re checking cameras in the area."
HPD advises women to leave the expensive handbags at home and if they must carry a purse, consider a crossbody, Don't carry a lot of cash and only bring the credit card(s) you need.
Watch Saturday's update from HPD in the video below: