A Galveston neighborhood is in shock after authorities say a 16-year-old girl fatally shot her mother, 34-year-old Tiamoya Deshondra Moore, multiple times inside the family’s home last week.
According to the Galveston Police Department, officers were called to the 5100 block of Avenue Q on the evening of Sept. 11 after neighbors reported hearing both screams and gunfire.
When officers arrived, they found Moore unresponsive with at least five gunshot wounds. She was transported in critical condition to UTMB Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Teen Suspect in Custody
Investigators quickly identified Moore’s teenage daughter as the suspected shooter. Witnesses told police the girl fled the home immediately after the shooting. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
While police were still processing the crime scene, the 16-year-old reportedly returned to the residence and was taken into custody without incident.
She is currently being held at the Jerry J. Esmond Juvenile Justice Center as investigators continue to probe the motive behind the killing.
A Family Shattered
Moore, a Galveston native, was a well-known hairstylist and nail technician. She became a mother at 18 and went on to raise five children. Now, her family is left devastated, with her surviving children suddenly facing life without their mother.
Neighbors described the incident as deeply unsettling, saying they had no idea the mother-daughter relationship had deteriorated to the point of violence. Some reported hearing a heated argument before gunfire erupted.
Questions Over Motive and Access to Firearms
Authorities have not disclosed how the teenager obtained the weapon used in the shooting, though Texas has some of the loosest gun access laws in the country.
Community members are grappling with unanswered questions: what sparked the fatal confrontation, and how a 16-year-old had access to a firearm?
Legal experts note that cases involving juveniles accused of homicide are particularly complex. While the teen is currently housed in juvenile detention, prosecutors could petition to have her tried as an adult depending on the findings of the investigation.
The case has also reignited conversations around gun violence, family disputes, and the limits of juvenile justice in Texas.
