HOUSTON, Texas — A 90-year-old man who spent decades running a neighborhood convenience store was brutally attacked in his sleep — stabbed repeatedly with a screwdriver by a man he had once helped with money.
Francisco Chura was asleep in his home, which was attached to his store, when the attack happened on Aug. 20, 2025.
Anthony Cerda, 34, allegedly removed an air-conditioning unit from a window to break in. He then jumped on top of the sleeping man, punched him repeatedly, and stabbed him multiple times in the stomach with a screwdriver.
The Victim Played Dead to Stay Alive
Chura suffered several small circular stab wounds. His bed sheets were soaked in blood.
In a remarkable act of survival, Chura played dead until the attacker fled. He then hid in the bathroom until daylight and ran to a neighbor’s house for help.
He was rushed to the hospital — but died on Sept. 7, 2025, nearly three weeks after the attack.
Chura told detectives that roughly $3,000 in cash was missing from his safe, which was found wide open. Police believe the motive was robbery.
DNA and a Shocking Confession Broke the Case
Investigators recovered a bent, blood-stained screwdriver at the scene. DNA testing confirmed the blood belonged to both Chura and Cerda.
Months later, a witness told police that Cerda casually admitted the killing while the two were getting high together — saying “I killed Pancho,” using Chura’s nickname.
Cerda was already sitting in Harris County Jail on an unrelated charge when the arrest warrant came through.
A Neighborhood Mourns One of Its Own
Chura was a fixture in the community for decades — someone neighbors say always helped people in need.
“Everybody grew up with him,” one neighbor said. “Everybody was surprised when that happened.”
Cerda has denied involvement and claimed he had never been inside the store. He is due in court Monday.
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