Antonio Armstrong Jr. Faced Three Murder Trials for Parents' Shocking Deaths.
Antonio "A.J." Armstrong Jr., a 16-year-old from Houston, Texas, found himself at the center of one of the most complicated murder cases in recent years.
His father, Antonio Armstrong Sr., was a former NFL linebacker who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
At approximately 1:40 a.m. on July 29, 2016, Armstrong Jr. dialed 911, claiming he heard gunshots coming from his parents' bedroom on the lower level of their Houston home.
In 2016, A.J. was accused of gunning down his parents, Dawn and Antonio Armstrong Sr., in their home. Over the course of three separate murder trials, Armstrong Jr. was put under intense scrutiny, facing both public outcry and legal challenges.
This case not only captivated the public due to the tragic nature of the deaths but also because of the complex family dynamics and mounting circumstantial evidence.
In this article, we take an in-depth look at the events surrounding the Armstrong family's double homicide, the investigation, and the three trials that followed.
The Tragic Deaths of Dawn and Antonio Armstrong Sr.
The events that would ultimately unravel the Armstrong family's life began in the early hours of July 29, 2016. At around 1:40 a.m., Antonio “A.J.” Armstrong Jr. placed a 911 call, reporting that he heard gunshots coming from his parents' bedroom. According to the teen, he was still in bed when he heard the sounds of two gunshots.
Armstrong Jr. stated that his father, Antonio Armstrong Sr., usually kept a firearm in the nightstand drawer. The teenager also mentioned that his 12-year-old sister was still sleeping inside the house. In the midst of the 911 call, Armstrong Jr. can be heard saying, “How’d you get into our house?” before adding, “It’s all my fault.”
The Crime Scene
When police arrived at the Armstrong family home, they found the bodies of Dawn and Antonio Armstrong Sr. in their bedroom. Dawn had already died from her injuries, while Antonio Armstrong Sr. was found with a pillow over his face.
The Houston Fire Department’s Jason Williams described the scene, recalling that Antonio Sr. was still alive but severely wounded. He was rushed to the hospital but would succumb to his injuries hours later.
Upon examining the crime scene, Houston Police Department (HPD) officials noted several troubling details:
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Bullet Hole in the Ceiling: A bullet hole was discovered in the ceiling just outside the couple’s bedroom, with the bullet embedded in the floor below. The trajectory suggested the shot came from Armstrong Jr.’s third-story bedroom.
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Firearm and Suspicious Note: In the kitchen, investigators found a handgun belonging to Antonio Sr. on the counter. A scribbled note reading, “I have been watching for a long time” was also found, adding further mystery to the situation.
The Armstrong Family’s Reputation
Dawn and Antonio Armstrong Sr. were well-known in the Houston community. Antonio Sr. was a former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins, as well as a local gym owner.
Dawn was respected as a supportive mother and spouse. Their children attended the same private school as Kelly Siegler, the host of Prosecuting Evil, who became familiar with the family’s reputation.
Despite their image as a “perfect family,” the Armstrongs' private lives were far more complicated than anyone realized.
Investigating A.J. Armstrong Jr.
The police’s primary suspect quickly became Armstrong Jr., whose conflicting statements and actions raised suspicion. In his first interview with authorities, Armstrong Jr. claimed that he had gotten up to use the restroom and then heard the door to his parents' bedroom open, followed by the sounds of gunshots. He said he ran upstairs and saw a masked man fleeing the scene.
However, there were inconsistencies in his story. Armstrong Jr. had never mentioned the masked man during his 911 call, a crucial detail that emerged only hours later in a follow-up statement.
Additionally, the bullet hole in the ceiling suggested that the shot had been fired from his bedroom, which raised questions about his involvement.
Another peculiar detail that caught investigators' attention was Armstrong Jr.'s admission that he had deactivated the house alarm before the police arrived. If an intruder had broken into the home, as Armstrong Jr. claimed, the alarm would have likely gone off. Moreover, there were no signs of forced entry.
Armstrong Jr. denied any involvement, maintaining, “I had nothing to do with this” in his taped interview.
Building the Case Against Armstrong Jr.
Despite Armstrong Jr.’s denials, prosecutors began to build their case, citing several key pieces of evidence that pointed to him as the perpetrator:
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Conflict with Parents: Investigators discovered a series of text messages between Armstrong Jr. and his parents that highlighted tension in the family. Dawn and Antonio Sr. had frequently texted their son about his drug use, dishonesty, and rebellion, leading to punishments such as restrictions on his car, phone, and social activities. The texts revealed a volatile relationship, one that prosecutors argued could have been a motive for murder.
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Burn Mark and Arson Attempt: Police found a long, narrow burn mark on the carpet at the top of the stairs, which was created by fire and matched the type of gasoline found in a rubbing alcohol bottle in Armstrong Jr.’s bedroom. Prosecutors theorized that the burn mark was evidence of an attempted arson to trap his parents inside the house.
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The Bullet Hole: The bullet hole in the ceiling, fired from Armstrong Jr.’s bedroom, was also a key piece of evidence. Prosecutors argued that this shot had been fired in preparation for the murders, perhaps as a test shot to ensure the firearm worked properly.
The Defense: A.J.’s Innocence and a New Suspect
Armstrong Jr.’s defense team, led by attorney Rick DeToto, maintained that there was insufficient evidence to convict their client. They argued that Armstrong Jr.’s volatile relationship with his parents was not enough to establish a clear motive for murder.
Instead, the defense proposed an alternative theory — that Armstrong Jr.'s half-brother, Josh Armstrong, might have been the real killer. According to DeToto, Josh had been struggling with depression and had recently learned that Antonio Sr. was not his biological father. This, the defense argued, could have led to feelings of jealousy and resentment.
However, Josh Armstrong was never officially considered a suspect by the police, and his alibi — provided by his girlfriend, Hannah Pilon, who was with him on the night of the murders — appeared to clear him.
Despite the defense's claims, the prosecution remained focused on Armstrong Jr. as the prime suspect.
The First Trial: A Hung Jury
The first trial of A.J. Armstrong Jr. took place in March 2019. Prosecutors presented their case, pointing to Armstrong Jr.'s conflicting statements and the evidence that seemed to suggest his involvement. However, the defense continued to argue that the case against Armstrong Jr. was weak, particularly with no clear motive.
Antonio “A.J.” Armstrong Jr. Appears in Court
The jury deliberated for hours but ultimately returned a hung verdict, with eight jurors voting guilty and four voting not guilty. This result left both the prosecution and defense disappointed, but the prosecution was determined to retry the case.
The Second Trial: Delays and a Deadlocked Jury
The second trial of A.J. Armstrong Jr. began in October 2022 after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. By this time, Armstrong Jr. had grown older, was married to his long-term girlfriend, Kate, and had a young child of his own. Prosecutors sought to use his new life circumstances to illustrate how much had changed since the original murder, but it didn’t seem to sway the jury.
The defense again relied heavily on the theory that Josh Armstrong might be the true killer. New evidence, including testimony about errors in the home’s security system, was introduced. The defense argued that these flaws cast doubt on the prosecution's claims.
Once again, the jury could not reach a unanimous decision, with four jurors voting guilty and eight voting not guilty. This deadlocked jury left the case unresolved, leading to yet another trial.
The Third Trial: The Final Verdict
In May 2023, the third and final trial of A.J. Armstrong Jr. began. Prosecutors, determined to secure a conviction, decided to take an innovative approach by reconstructing the crime scene for the jury.
They built a full-sized replica of the staircase leading to the Armstrongs' bedroom and brought in crime scene reconstruction experts to demonstrate how close Armstrong Jr. would have been to the masked assailant — just three feet, three inches away.
Prosecutors also revisited the security system data, bringing in software experts to explain how the evidence pointed to Armstrong Jr. as the likely killer. They focused on the inconsistencies in his statements and the fact that he had never mentioned the masked man during his 911 call.
After intense deliberation, the jury found Armstrong Jr. guilty of capital murder on August 15, 2023. He was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 40 years.
While the conviction brought a sense of closure for some, many continued to question the fairness of the trial, with some still believing in Armstrong Jr.'s innocence.
The Emotional Toll and Continued Debate
Despite his conviction, Armstrong Jr.'s defense team, led by Rick DeToto, maintained their belief that he was innocent. DeToto expressed mixed emotions about the verdict, acknowledging that he had fought tirelessly for his client but still felt a sense of failure.
The Armstrong case remains a contentious and emotional topic. Many supporters continue to fight for Armstrong Jr.'s innocence, arguing that he was wrongfully convicted. As the years pass, questions about the true killer and the validity of the evidence will likely continue to haunt those involved in the case.
Armstrong was selected in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers
A Complicated Case with No Easy Answers
The case of Antonio “A.J.” Armstrong Jr. is a tragic and multifaceted story of family dynamics, legal battles, and the pursuit of justice.
With conflicting evidence, multiple trials, and a deadlocked jury, it’s a case that has left more questions than answers. Whether Armstrong Jr. is truly guilty or innocent, one thing remains clear: the lives of the Armstrong family were forever altered on that fateful night in 2016, and the ripple effects continue to be felt by all involved.
