Brother arrested and charged in Houston shooting of sister

HOUSTON – A man has been arrested after being accused of murdering his sister last month, Houston police said.

Richard Taplin, 35, faces charges of murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful carrying of a weapon with a felony conviction in connection with the death of Sarah Taplin.

On May 20, Richard was arrested in Arizona as part of a joint operation with the Houston and Phoenix task forces.

Police say the shooting happened in Houston near Martin Luther King Blvd and Bellfort around 10 p.m. on April 27.

HPD says Sarah Taplin got into an argument with another woman in a gas station parking lot. Richard allegedly took a gun from someone nearby, pointed it at the unidentified woman and shot her as she fled.

HPD says Richard Taplin also fired indiscriminately into the crowded gas station parking lot across the street and hit his sister.

Sarah Taplin died from her injuries and Richard fled the scene.

He is currently being held in Arizona awaiting extradition to Houston.