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Lionel Messi Scores and Assists Twice in Final Game for Argentina

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Lionel Messi ended his international career with a goal, two assists and one final victory for Argentina. The Lionel Messi final Argentina game ended in a 3-0 win over Benin on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

The farewell closed a 21-year national team career for the 39-year-old captain. Messi leaves Argentina as its record holder for appearances, goals and assists.

Messi Leads Argentina in Farewell Victory

Argentina struggled to score during the opening half of the friendly. However, Messi soon took control of the match after halftime.

In the 48th minute, he delivered a corner kick that Nicolás Otamendi converted for Argentina’s opening goal. Messi then assisted Nico Paz in the 61st minute.

The captain completed the scoring from the penalty spot in the 71st minute. His goal produced another celebration from the more than 85,000 fans inside the Monumental.

Messi participated directly in all three goals during his final international appearance, according to Inter Miami CF.

Argentina wore a commemorative uniform for the occasion. Organizers promoted the match as “The Last Tango,” and tickets reportedly sold out within 90 minutes.

Former players from Argentina’s 1978, 1986 and 2022 World Cup championship teams attended the farewell.

Lionel Messi Final Argentina Game Ends Historic Career

Messi finishes his Argentina career with 208 appearances, 126 goals and 70 assists. All three figures are national records.

His international career began against Hungary in August 2005. That debut ended after Messi received a red card shortly after entering the match.

Over the following two decades, he became Argentina’s captain and most accomplished player. His international titles include the 2021 and 2024 Copa América championships, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Messi also appeared in nine international finals. His 34 World Cup appearances are the most by any player, according to Inter Miami.

The road to those achievements included several difficult defeats. Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final and consecutive Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016.

Messi briefly stepped away from the national team following the 2016 defeat. He later returned and guided Argentina through the most successful period of his international career.

An Emotional Farewell in Buenos Aires

Messi entered the stadium with his three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro. He appeared emotional during the national anthem and again after the final whistle.

His teammates gathered around him as supporters continued singing his name. A midfield display honored him as Argentina’s “Eternal Captain.”

In his farewell speech, Messi thanked his family, teammates and supporters. He said representing Argentina was the greatest experience of his life, according to the Argentine Football Association.

Messi also encouraged fans to continue supporting the national team during its transition. He acknowledged that difficult periods could follow such a major change.

The farewell came after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain. Messi announced his international retirement several weeks later.

Messi Will Continue Playing for Inter Miami

The match ended Messi’s career with Argentina, but it did not mark his retirement from club soccer. He will return to South Florida and continue playing for Inter Miami.

His contract with the Major League Soccer club runs through the 2028 season.

Messi’s continued presence in MLS remains significant for soccer supporters across Texas and the United States. However, his final Argentina appearance closed one of the most successful chapters in international soccer history.

Microsoft Windows and Surface Event Set for Today With Focus on Local AI

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Microsoft will hold a special Windows and Surface presentation today, Oct. 7, from San Francisco. The Microsoft Windows and Surface event begins at 10 a.m. Pacific, or noon Central time.

The company has promised updates involving Windows and Microsoft Surface. Its invitation points to a broader discussion about how locally powered artificial intelligence could shape the next generation of personal computers.

How to Watch the Microsoft Windows and Surface Event

Microsoft will livestream the presentation through its official Windows and Surface event page. The broadcast allows consumers, developers and technology professionals to follow the announcements remotely.

The event represents Microsoft’s first dedicated Windows and Surface presentation since the company introduced its Copilot+ PC category in 2024. However, Microsoft has not published a detailed agenda.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is expected to participate alongside Windows and Surface leader Pavan Davuluri. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is also expected to appear, according to Windows Central.

Their participation signals that artificial intelligence hardware will likely play a central role. It could also highlight the growing partnership between Microsoft and NVIDIA.

Surface Laptop Ultra Could Take Center Stage

One likely focus is the Surface Laptop Ultra, which Microsoft announced earlier this year. The company has described it as its most powerful Surface laptop.

The 15-inch device uses NVIDIA’s RTX Spark platform and supports up to 128GB of unified memory. Microsoft says it can provide up to one petaflop of AI computing performance.

That capacity allows developers to run large AI models directly on the computer. It also supports demanding work such as video editing, software development and 3D rendering.

The laptop includes a mini-LED PixelSense Ultra touchscreen. Microsoft has also confirmed HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, SD card and headphone connections.

However, the company has not announced complete pricing or availability information. Those details could arrive during today’s event.

Microsoft may also discuss its Surface RTX Spark Dev Box. The compact computer is designed for developers who need significant local computing power for AI projects.

Why Microsoft Is Emphasizing Local AI

Most widely used AI services process requests through remote data centers. Local AI shifts more of that work onto the user’s device.

Running models locally may reduce delays and allow certain tools to work without a constant internet connection. It can also help users keep sensitive data on their computers.

Microsoft and NVIDIA have positioned RTX Spark devices as systems for creators, developers and advanced users. The companies say the platform combines AI processing with NVIDIA’s graphics and software technologies.

Microsoft previously announced that RTX Spark would reach laptops and compact desktop computers from several manufacturers. Those companies include ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and MSI.

Windows Updates Also Expected

Microsoft is also expected to discuss the future of Windows. The company has continued developing AI agents that can perform tasks, organize information and interact with applications.

Any announcement involving autonomous agents will likely raise questions about privacy, security and user control. Microsoft faced criticism following the original announcement of Recall, a feature designed to help users find previously viewed content.

Today’s presentation could show how the company plans to address those concerns while expanding on-device AI capabilities.

Consumers should watch for firm details on prices, release dates and software compatibility. Those announcements will determine whether Microsoft’s local AI strategy can reach everyday users or remain focused on professional buyers.

Ex-Boyfriend Charged in North Houston Double Shooting That Killed Two Parents

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A North Houston double shooting killed Dariela Cardona and Erick Von Gerbitz shortly after they dropped their son off at school. Houston police arrested Cardona’s former boyfriend, David Elijah Herrera, and charged him with capital murder.

The shooting happened around 8:15 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5, outside a home at 905 Lindale Street. The property is in Houston’s Near Northside neighborhood.

Parents Killed After Morning School Drop-Off

Officers found Cardona, 29, and Von Gerbitz, 41, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced both victims dead at the scene, according to the Houston Police Department.

Cardona and Von Gerbitz had taken their young son to a nearby school shortly before 8 a.m. They were returning to the Lindale Street home when the shooting occurred, our TV news partner ABC13 reported.

The timing meant the child was not at the residence during the gunfire. Cardona leaves behind two young sons.

Family members said Cardona and Von Gerbitz had recently renewed their relationship. Von Gerbitz was the father of Cardona’s younger son.

Investigators believe Herrera became angry about the reconciliation. Authorities identified him as Cardona’s former boyfriend and the father of her other child.

Police have described the case as domestic violence. However, investigators have not released a complete account of the events preceding the shooting.

North Houston Double Shooting Captured on Camera

Police said nearby surveillance video recorded a red vehicle leaving after the gunfire. A witness also captured part of the license plate, helping investigators identify the vehicle.

Authorities used license plate-reading cameras to follow the car into Liberty County. Law enforcement officers located Herrera near the Cleveland area and arrested him about two hours after the shooting.

Court records list the arrest time as 10:17 a.m. Herrera reportedly surrendered without resistance.

Officers found firearms inside the vehicle, including one equipped with a drum magazine, according to the report. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether any recovered weapon was used in the shooting.

Suspect Faces Capital Murder Charge

Herrera, 31, was booked into the Harris County Jail. He faces a capital murder charge in the 209th Criminal District Court.

Texas law allows prosecutors to pursue a capital murder charge when someone is accused of killing more than one person during the same criminal act. A criminal charge remains an allegation, and Herrera is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Prosecutors requested that Herrera remain jailed without bond. Court records also indicate that authorities sought restrictions barring contact with the victims’ families if a judge grants bond.

Cardona worked as a hairstylist and was building her business before her death. Relatives and neighbors described her as a hardworking mother devoted to her children.

The deaths have left two boys without their mother and one without either parent. As investigators continue examining the case, Houston residents experiencing threats or domestic violence are encouraged to seek confidential assistance. Anyone facing immediate danger should call 911.

Cornell Rape Case Recordings Add New Details as Investigation Continues

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Newly published excerpts from Cornell rape case recordings provide more information about the disputed events at a fraternity house in October 2024. Meanwhile, unverified social media posts have attempted to identify the woman who filed the lawsuit as Jane Doe.

No credible news organization or court document has confirmed her identity. She remains identified as Jane Doe in public court records.

Cornell Rape Case Recordings Detail Phone Conversation

ABC News obtained recordings of calls Jane Doe made while trying to reconstruct what happened at Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity house. The network aired selected excerpts but has not published the complete recordings.

One call involved former Cornell student Matthew Ingalls, whom Doe named as a defendant. She recorded the conversation shortly before reporting the incident to Cornell police on Nov. 8, 2024.

“The only way for me to heal is to know what happened,” Doe told Ingalls, according to ABC News. She also said she was confused and trying to understand how several people entered the room.

Ingalls reportedly said the bedroom door was unlocked and the house was crowded. During the call, Doe told him that what happened “would be classified as gang rape.”

Ingalls has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime. Records reviewed by ABC indicate he told Cornell investigators that he was also too intoxicated to consent.

ABC reported that Doe recorded calls with three men and later provided them to Cornell. Other messages reviewed by the network showed fraternity members discussing how to respond after she contacted police.

Jane Doe’s Identity Remains Unconfirmed

Claims that Jane Doe’s identity was officially released are inaccurate. Her name has not appeared in verified court documents or reporting from major news organizations.

An online commentator posted a purported name before deleting it. Reuters could not verify that identification. Doe’s attorney also said multiple women had been incorrectly identified online.

Supporters responded by posting “I am Jane Doe” across social media. The campaign seeks to protect her anonymity and show support for sexual assault survivors.

Publishing an unverified name could expose an uninvolved person to harassment. For that reason, Que Onda is not repeating names circulated through social media.

State Attorney General Takes Over Investigation

Doe filed a civil lawsuit in September 2026 against Cornell, seven former students, Chi Phi and other defendants. She alleges fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted her during the night of Oct. 19, 2024.

Some defendants have denied participating in an assault. Records from Cornell’s investigation also show disagreements about consent and the extent of each person’s involvement. No criminal charges have been filed.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten initially declined to prosecute the case in 2024. He reopened the investigation in September 2026 after speaking with Doe and her attorney.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul later removed the local prosecutor from the investigation. She appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor on Oct. 1. James said her office would follow the facts and the law through a process New Yorkers could trust.

Cornell has said its internal proceedings resulted in expulsions and suspensions. The Chi Phi chapter was also closed and remains barred from campus. Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff has supported an independent review of the university’s response.

Students continued demanding greater accountability Monday, while campus organizations planned a “Justice for Survivors” demonstration. The renewed investigation could determine whether additional evidence supports criminal charges or other action.

USA vs. Mexico Friendly Showcases Potential of Young American Stars

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The USA vs. Mexico friendly delivered an emphatic statement from the next generation of American talent. The United States defeated Mexico 3-0 on Oct. 3 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Teenagers Julian Hall and Cavan Sullivan scored before Malik Tillman completed the victory. Their performances offered an early look at players who could shape the U.S. team through the 2030 World Cup cycle.

Teenagers deliver against Mexico

Hall opened the scoring in the 28th minute after Gio Reyna created space inside the penalty area. Mexico goalkeeper José Rangel stopped Reyna’s cross, but Hall quickly finished the rebound.

The 18-year-old has now scored in each of his first three senior international appearances. He previously found the net against Peru and Chile during the same fall window.

Sullivan doubled the lead in the 62nd minute. The Philadelphia Union midfielder pressured Rangel, intercepted an attempted pass and scored from about 30 yards.

At 17 years and five days, Sullivan became the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history. He and Hall also became the first pair of American teenagers to score against Mexico in the same match.

Tillman added the final goal in the 84th minute. Like Sullivan, he punished a mistake created by aggressive U.S. pressure.

USA vs. Mexico friendly tests young talent

Matches against Mexico carry greater intensity than most international exhibitions. That pressure made the performances of Hall and Sullivan particularly encouraging.

Both players showed composure before a crowd of 64,932. They also demonstrated how young talent can contribute without controlling every phase of a match.

Hall displayed sharp movement and awareness around the goal. Sullivan combined technical ability with the determination to pressure Mexico’s defense. Those qualities could help both players earn larger roles during the coming cycle.

However, one strong friendly does not guarantee future success. Young players must produce consistently for their clubs and continue developing physically and tactically.

A deeper American player pool

Goalkeeper Diego Kochen also made his senior international debut. The former FC Barcelona academy player recorded a clean sheet behind defenders Chris Richards, Auston Trusty, Alex Freeman and Antonee Robinson.

The combination of youth and experience proved important. Veterans Tyler Adams, Reyna and Tillman helped provide structure around the newcomers.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino selected a 28-player fall roster with an average age of 22 years and nine months. Thirteen players entered camp without a senior appearance. Their average age was 19 years and six months.

Other prospects in the group included Mathis Albert, Zavier Gozo, Peyton Miller, Neil Pierre and Brooklyn Raines. Several have already gained experience in Europe, Major League Soccer or U.S. youth national teams.

What the victory means for the United States

The result gave the United States six wins in its last 10 meetings with Mexico since 2021. It was also the Americans’ first victory against a top-10 ranked opponent since November 2021, according to U.S. Soccer.

Still, the long-term value of the match extends beyond the score. Hall, Sullivan and Kochen faced the country’s biggest regional rival and responded with confidence.

The next challenge will be maintaining that progress. Competition will increase when established players return and more prospects enter the national-team picture.

For supporters across Texas and the country, the performance offered a promising glimpse of the future. The young Americans now have an opportunity to turn one memorable night against Mexico into sustained international careers.

David Ellison Unveils Skydance Leadership Team for Paramount-Warner Bros

David Ellison has unveiled the Skydance leadership team expected to manage the combined Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. The announcement came one day before the companies expect to complete their landmark merger.

The new organization will operate under the Skydance name. However, Paramount, Warner Bros. and other established entertainment brands will retain their individual identities.

Ellison and Kreiz Will Lead Skydance

Ellison will serve as chairman and chief executive officer. Former Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz will work alongside him as co-CEO.

Ellison will oversee long-term strategy, creative direction, technology, partnerships and capital allocation. Kreiz will manage daily operations and the integration of the two entertainment companies.

Andy Gordon will become president and work closely with both executives. Gordon helped organize Skydance’s 2025 acquisition of Paramount and its subsequent pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery.

The corporate leadership group also includes Dennis Cinelli as chief financial officer. Makan Delrahim will serve as chief legal officer and president of global corporate affairs.

Dane Glasgow will become chief product officer. Rebecca Mall will lead marketing, while Melissa Zukerman will oversee communications. All members will report to Ellison and Kreiz, according to Paramount’s leadership announcement.

Skydance Leadership Team Combines Major Entertainment Brands

Several prominent Warner Bros. Discovery executives will remain with the merged company.

Casey Bloys, the longtime HBO executive, will become co-chair and chief content officer of Skydance’s direct-to-consumer division. His responsibilities will include original programming for HBO Max and Paramount+.

J.B. Perrette will share leadership of the streaming and television businesses. He will oversee areas including distribution, advertising, content sales and streaming strategy.

George Cheeks will co-lead Skydance TV. The division will include Warner Bros. Television Studios, CBS Studios and Paramount Television Studios. It will also oversee CBS, sports operations, local stations and more than 50 cable networks.

Those networks include BET, Comedy Central, Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, MTV, Nickelodeon, TBS and TNT.

Goldberg and Greenstein Take Charge of Movies

Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein will become co-chairs of the Skydance Motion Picture Group. They will oversee Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. and the company’s broader film portfolio.

Their responsibilities will cover production, development, distribution, marketing and long-term planning.

Meanwhile, James Gunn and Peter Safran will remain co-chairmen of DC Studios. The pair will continue directing the DC Universe across movies, television, animation, gaming and themed entertainment.

Several top Warner executives will depart during the transition. They include Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and film studio leaders Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, the Los Angeles Times reported.

CNN and CBS News Retain Separate Leaders

CNN and CBS News will keep separate editorial leadership.

Mark Thompson will remain chairman and editor-in-chief of CNN Worldwide. Bari Weiss will continue as editor-in-chief of CBS News. Both will report to Ellison and Kreiz as members of the news executive leadership team.

The arrangement follows regulatory scrutiny surrounding the merger and its potential effect on competition and editorial independence.

A federal judge recently approved Paramount’s settlement with 12 states that challenged the transaction. The agreement included commitments involving domestic film production, displaced entertainment workers and editorial monitoring at CNN and CBS.

The $81 billion acquisition is expected to close Oct. 6. It will place CBS, CNN, HBO, Paramount+, HBO Max, DC Studios and two historic movie studios within one company.

The leadership announcement provides the clearest picture yet of how that enormous collection of entertainment and news brands will operate. Audiences will now watch for changes to streaming services, theatrical releases, television programming and subscription prices.

Man escapes police perimeter after allegedly firing near delivery woman, manhunt underway, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A man is on the run after he escaped the police perimeter set up during a barricade scene in north Houston on Sunday, according to police.

According to the Houston Police Department, officers responded to a shooting call in the 2400 block of Presley Street at around 11:45 a.m.

A woman told police she was delivering an Amazon package when shots rang out from the house. HPD said she found her car had been struck by the bullets.

Officials said that the delivery woman was not hit by any bullets and is not injured.

Police told ABC13 that the delivery woman told them that she saw the suspect inside the home; he briefly spoke to her, then retreated inside.

HPD said that when officers arrived, they did not make contact with the man.

According to Lt. Kelly at the scene, officers set a perimeter until SWAT arrived, but then were unable to find him.

“Right now, it is believed the suspect was able to break the perimeter, and we were not able to locate him, and that’s where we’re at at this moment,” Kelly said at the scene.

The suspect on the run was described as a Hispanic man in his 50s who fled on foot, and police urged anyone with information about him to call police.

HPD said an investigation is underway.

“This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.“

Texans’ misery deepens: CeeDee Lamb’s late TD seals Cowboys’ win, drops Houston to 0-4

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HOUSTON, Texas — The Houston Texans entered the season with Super Bowl hopes.

Four games in, they’re still hoping to get their first win.

CeeDee Lamb had a career-high 17 catches for 189 yards and his 12-yard TD reception with 40 seconds left lifted the Dallas Cowboys to a 34-30 win over Houston on Sunday that dropped the Texans to 0-4.

The Texans went 12-2 last season after losing their first three games to become the first team in NFL history to make the postseason twice after opening the season 0-3.

Now they face an even bigger uphill climb if they hope to make the playoffs for a fourth straight season after their first 0-4 start since 2020. Only the 1992 Chargers have rebounded from a 0-4 start to make the postseason.

“It’s frustrating, but it’s the NFL,” defensive end Will Anderson said. “We’ve got to bow up, man. Nobody’s coming to save us … we’ve got to go out there and play grown man football and we’ve got to take accountability and really do our jobs.”

It was a second straight week where the Texans took a late lead only to have their defense give up a late score in a loss.

On Sunday, Dallas (2-2) trailed by 4 after a 6-yard touchdown run by Woody Marks with about 2 ½ minutes to play. The Texans were facing third-and-14 when a hook-and-ladder play with a 2-yard catch by Dalton Schultz and a 19-yard run by David Montgomery set up that score.

Dak Prescott then orchestrated an 11-play, 74-yard drive that included a fourth down conversion and capped it with the throw to Lamb to give the Cowboys the victory.

“Today was not a great finish by our team,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Defensively it was not good enough. The offense goes out and plays like they played to give us 30 points and defensively we have to find a way to close that game out.”

Houston’s defense has taken a huge step back this season after leading the NFL in yards allowed (277.2) and ranking second in points given up (17.3) last season.

This season the Texans are allowing 343.75 yards and 27.25 points a game.

Houston did a good job defensively in the first half and led 16-6 at halftime. But the secondary fell apart after that as Prescott threw for 248 of his 335 yards in the second half and receivers were often left wide open.

“We’ve got to play our technique better,” Ryans said. “In the second half it just wasn’t good enough. In the first half I thought everybody played the coverages the way they were supposed to play, limited the explosive plays and the second half we did not do our coverages the proper way.”

Ryans got annoyed at a question postgame about why the Texans haven’t been able to replicate last season’s defensive performance this season.

“I understand a lot of people want to compare 2025 to 2026, but for me it’s not the same,” he said. “We’ve got a different team. We’ve got different people. It’s different. So as much as we would love 2025 to carry over into 2026 that’s never the case or how it works in the NFL. Just because you have prior success that doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to have future success.”

Quarterback C.J. Stroud spoke to the team postgame and implored his teammates to stay positive during his difficult stretch.

“I just wanted to get in front of them and let them know how much I believe in them and trust in them,” he said. “We’re not in a good spot and it’s not where anybody wants to be… but I have the utmost trust and hope in them. So I was trying to just keep everybody together.”

“This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.“

Former TSU adjunct professor sentenced in student financial aid fraud scheme: DOJ

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RICHMOND, Texas (KTRK) — A former Texas professor will serve more than six years behind bars after scheming to obtain thousands of dollars in federal student aid, according to U.S. Department of Justice officials.

Federal officials said 43-year-old Emmanuel Olugbaike Finnih, a former adjunct professor at Texas Southern University from Richmond and originally from Nigeria, was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Finnih reportedly pleaded guilty in March to “theft of government funds, fraud, unlawful use or transfer of identity documents, and aggravated identity theft,” according to a DOJ release.

Finnih allegedly began the scheme in 2017. Charging documents state he unlawfully obtained financial aid funds for over 30 alleged students at eight colleges and universities in Texas.

Officials said Finnih used the students’ identities to submit more than 100 fraudulent financial aid applications to the Department of Education.

According to the DOJ, he used mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email accounts he controlled to ensure information from the Education Department and schools was sent directly to him.

“The fraud left some victims with tens of thousands of dollars in student loans fraudulently placed in their names, significantly affecting their credit,” the Justice Department said, adding that Finnih submitted fraudulent aid applications seeking over $1.3 million in grants and loans, of which $921,189.08 was disbursed.

“This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.“

Woman charged with murdering her own sister in west Houston, court records show

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A 20-year-old woman and her partner are facing capital murder charges in connection with the death of the woman’s older sister inside a west Houston apartment, according to court records.

Investigators said Aveyia Webb, 27, was found dead in her apartment in the 8100 block of Richmond Avenue on Thursday morning after relatives became concerned when they had not heard from her.

Webb’s aunt, Beverly Hobbs, said she went to check on her niece after Webb stopped responding, which family members said was out of character. Hobbs said she knocked on the apartment door and, when no one answered, went inside and found Webb dead on the couch.

“We would have never thought we had to protect her from her own little sister,” Aveyia’s aunt Edie Smith-Anderson said.

According to court documents, Webb’s sister, Alaya Jones, and Jones’ partner, Kaleb Maglott, robbed and killed Webb inside the apartment.

Both Jones and Maglott were arrested Thursday and are charged with capital murder, according to court records.

Family members said the two stole Webb’s vehicle and wallet. According to relatives, Jones had been living in Florida and had told family members she was coming to Houston to move back here. They also said investigators found text messages on Jones’ phone that they believe point to the alleged murder being planned.

“There were text messages exchanged from Alaya and her boyfriend planning to come here,” Smith-Anderson said. “They bought a gun in Florida, came here, verbatim, ‘Kill Aveyia and take her stuff’. And that was found on Alaya’s phone.”

Webb worked as a hairstylist and was preparing to begin pharmacy school, according to Rosie Hart, Webb’s boyfriend’s sister and one of her close friends. Hart said Webb brought positivity to the people around her and was known for her love of good food.

“She was really a very positive light in our life,” Hart said. “There was not a time that you could say anything negative about Aveyia.”

Relatives said Webb had a promising future and was ready to take on the world. Webb’s aunt Beverly Hobbs compared her to a butterfly about to spread her wings.

“She was ready to take on the world, and her light was taken out by not a stranger, but her family member, someone that she would have done anything for,” Hobbs said. “She had so many things going for her; that’s what makes this so hard.”

“This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.“