Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
The son of former NFL player Antonio Armstrong Sr. has been sentenced to life in prison. According to PEOPLE, the 23-year-old has been found guilty of the 2016 murder of his mother and father.
Additionally, the 23-year-old’s conviction in the murder case follows two previous mistrials, reportedly due to hung juries, as per New York Post.
According to New York Post, Antonio Armstrong Jr. was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday. Additionally, the 23-year-old has the possibility of being granted parole after he serves 40 years.
On Wednesday, Armstrong Jr. was also found guilty of the capital murder of his parents, Antonio Armstrong Sr. and Dawn Armstrong, in 2016. A Texas grand jury reportedly heard “more than 40 hours of testimony” from more than “31 witnesses” over the 11-day trial.
After over ten hours of deliberations, the group reportedly came to their verdict.
The outlet adds that Armstrong Jr. “showed no emotion” as he was read his fate.
According to the outlet, Armstrong Jr. allegedly fatally shot his parents while they were asleep in their Houston home on July 29, 2016. At the time, he was 16 years old.
Additionally, prosecutors allege that Armstrong Jr. placed a pillow over their heads. Then he called 911 to report having heard gunshots.
Furthermore, a note was left on the family’s kitchen counter along with the “.22-caliber pistol” used in the crime.
“I have been watching you for a long time, the note reportedly read, as per New York Post. “Come get me.”
At the time of the investigation, Armstrong Jr. alleged that he saw a “6-foot-tall man” flee his family’s home. However, when authorities checked the house’s security system, they learned no intruder was present.
Additionally, authorities reportedly discovered information about Armstrong Jr.’s troubling behavior. Days before the fatal shooting, the 16-year-old had allegedly lit a fire outside his parent’s bedroom.
New York Post adds that Armstrong Jr. was also scolded by his parents for getting kicked out of high school for “failing grades” and smoking marijuana.
According to PEOPLE, Armstrong Jr. denied murdering his parents during a ’20/20′ episode that aired in January.
“I was in complete shock. It was a mix of shock, it was a mix of anger, it was a lot of different things — like, why me? There’s no way possible,” he reportedly said in reference to his parents’ murders. “I couldn’t even fathom the idea of killing my parents.”
The outlet adds that Armstrong Jr.’s defense team plans to appeal the verdict.
