Who is Antonio Armstrong Jr? Teen son accused of killing ex-NFL LB pipes up for the first time since horrific 2016 incident

Around seven years ago, former NFL linebacker Antonio Armstrong Sr. was murdered in his sleep alongside his wife, Dawn. In a horrific turn of events, their son Antonio 'AB' Armstrong Jr. was accused of the murder. Years later, the now-23-year-old AB is finally speaking out about the crime.

In 2016, AB was the one to call the authorities after hearing shots. He apparently spotted a masked man in their home, following which the bodies were found in the bed with gunshot wounds. A 'strange' note was apparently found by the authorities, details of which have not been made public.

Interestingly, this will be Armstong Jr's third trial.

According to reports, the accused is still claiming his innocence.

"There's no way possible. I couldn't even fathom the idea of killing my parents," Antonio Armstrong Jr said.

They added that the former teenager was in complete shock after being accused of the murder. Though there have been trials, they ended in a hung jury (2019 and 2022).

Furthermore, Armstrong was charged with capital murder. He has maintained his stance and has continued to deny the murders of his parents.

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Why was Antonio Armstrong Jr suspected?

On July 29, 2016, Armstrong Jr ended up calling the police at 1:40 AM. As mentioned, he spoke of gunshots and an armed man in the house. After investigating, the police found zero signs of forced entry along with a .22-caliber pistol.

Image Credit: Dawn Whitely Armstrong's Facebook

Further reports stated that AB was constantly reprimanded by his parents. This was due to low grades, lying, and bad behavior.

Additionally, Antonio Armstrong Jr's grandparents and his family stand by him and his innocence. Dawn's father, Keith, explained that they will continue to support him, and will continue to do so:

“We have stood by our grandson's side everyday since 2016. Everyone in the family fully supports him and believes in his innocence."

Image Credit: Dawn Whitely Armstrong's Facebook

His other grandparent, Kay Armstrong, read her statement. Apparently, the family could go bankrupt due to the neverending legal fees. As the trials continue, the family continues to struggle and cannot move on with their lives.

"They just keep on trying this case until they get the results that they're looking for," Kay said. "We can't move on with our lives and we can't forget what we've been through."

Having said that, the next trial is scheduled for February 2023.