Houston Killer Removed AC Unit From Back Window To Break Into Elderly Man’s Home Police Say
Francisco Chura was 90 years old, asleep in his own home in southeast Houston, when someone who knew him climbed through the back window and attacked him in the dark.
He was punched. Stabbed multiple times with a screwdriver. Left bleeding in his bedroom.
But Francisco didn’t die that night. He played dead, hid until sunrise, then walked to a neighbor’s house and asked for help. At 90.
What Happened at 7800 Canal Street
On August 20, 2025, Houston Police responded to a 911 call at 7801 Canal Street and found Francisco Chura with multiple blunt force trauma wounds. He was rushed to the hospital and died from his injuries on September 7, 2025.
The man police believe is responsible is Anthony Cerda, 34, someone Chura knew personally. Cerda regularly visited the convenience store Chura had owned for decades, right next to his home. Chura had even loaned him money before.
The day before the attack, Cerda came asking for money. Chura gave it to him. When Cerda returned a second time, Chura kicked him out.
That night, Cerda allegedly came back through the window.
The Detail Everyone Missed
Court documents, reported by ABC13 KTRK, reveal Cerda didn’t break a door or smash glass. He removed the rear window AC unit and walked right in.
No alarm triggered. No noise. Nothing.
A window AC unit is not a security feature. It’s a plug. And most can be lifted out from outside in under a minute. Investigators found the room covered in blood, a bent screwdriver on the floor, and an open safe with $3,000 missing.
This pattern isn’t new. We covered a similar case when an ex-boyfriend kicked in a front door and opened fire inside a Daytona Beach home, someone who knew the victim and came back with intent.
How They Caught Him
About two months after the attack, detectives found Cerda hiding in the crawlspace of his aunt’s home. She confirmed he stayed there when he had nowhere to go and called Chura’s death “such a sad story.”
His DNA matched the screwdriver found at the scene. A witness also told investigators Cerda had confessed to the killing in January 2026.
On June 12, 2026, the HPD Eastside Division Gang Unit arrested Cerda and booked him into Harris County jail. He was already behind bars on an unrelated charge. He now faces capital murder in the 232nd Criminal Court.
Running doesn’t erase evidence. A similar case in New York showed the same thing, where a burglar who fled into the woods was tracked down by a drone.
Why This Matters
This wasn’t a random break-in. It was someone the victim trusted, who knew the layout, knew there was cash, and knew exactly how to get in quietly.
According to S&P Global, 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older by 2030. Seniors living alone, especially those running small businesses from home, carry a risk that most security advice completely ignores.
People assume the danger comes from strangers. Often, it doesn’t.
If you follow home security and local crime news, there’s a WhatsApp channel covering stories like this regularly, worth joining if this kind of coverage matters to you.
The AC Unit Is a Blind Spot
Most window AC units sit in place with nothing but gravity and a thin frame. No lock. No sensor. No alert if someone lifts it out.
Add a window sensor beside the AC unit frame, use a locking bracket that can’t be lifted from outside, and prioritize rear and side windows for seniors living alone.
Surveillance helps too. We covered a case in Georgetown County where burglars were arrested after a homeowner spotted them on a surveillance camera. A simple camera did what no lock could.
Final Thoughts
Francisco Chura spent decades building a store, a community, a life. He helped people, including the man who allegedly took everything from him.
If you have elderly parents or grandparents living alone near a business, check their window AC units this week. Five minutes. Costs nothing.
Does this case change how you think about who actually poses a risk at home? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. All details are based on publicly available police reports and verified news sources. Anthony Cerda is charged but not convicted. All allegations are per court documents and law enforcement statements.
