Harris County’s bond system fails to prevent mass shooting tragedy

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – “It will never be the same again. I miss him so much, it hurts so much,” said Tomeka Howard, who lost her youngest son, Breon Stuard, in the mass shooting last month.

“These individuals have wreaked havoc across the country and are wanted by multiple agencies,” said HPD Homicide Sergeant Adam Dudley.

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One of them, 21-year-old Javion Noel, should have been jailed or given a higher bond. Instead, the revolving door at the Harris County Courthouse freed him no matter what he did.

Two years ago Noel was convicted of theft.

“He was part of an organized crime catalyst ring,” said Andy Kahan of Crime Stoppers.

In November 2023, Noel was charged with theft in Collin County.

“He’s out on bail in Collin County and then things really start to pick up in Harris County,” Kahan said.

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In February 2024, Noel was charged with illegally carrying a weapon.

Court documents state: “He is in possession of a firearm and a backpack containing multiple loaded firearm magazines.”

He was a wanted fugitive in Collin County when he was granted his first of three bonds in Harris County on weapons charges.

In August 2024, Noel was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, a machine gun.

“He gets bail, the bail isn’t any higher,” Kahan said. “It is the original amount he received in February, which was $10,000.”

Less than a month later, Noel and two others were charged with murder in the Sept. 14 mass shooting at 4901 Laura Koppe.

“Three people die, eight people are injured,” Kahan said.

“These people were talking, listening to music and barbecuing,” Sergeant said. Dudley. “To be honest, they did nothing wrong and minded their own business.”

One of them killed 23-year-old Breon Stuard.

“Breon was our world,” his mother said. “He was the easiest person to get along with. Breon had no enemies.”

“This happened for seemingly no reason,” Dudley said.

“As far as I know, they were preparing to leave,” Tomeka said. “So he ended up in the middle of this.”

“He’s a threat to society and we’re still letting him out here,” Kahan said.

“I don’t understand how this is possible,” Tomeka said.