HOUSTON — A teen girl who was robbed and stabbed to death in the Galleria area was a new mom, her heartbroken mother told us on Tuesday.
Kayla Stevenson, 17, was walking to work Saturday around 11 a.m. when she was stabbed multiple times.
Editor's note: The main video in this story from a previous report.
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.
Her daughter left behind a six-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's 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. Witnesses said she was Asian, 25 to 35 years old and was wearing black clothing.
"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.
Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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: