Former NFL player Antonio Armstrong, wife fatally shot; teenage son charged
HOUSTON -- A former NFL player and his wife were shot and killed near Houston, Texas and their teenage son has been charged with their murder.
Antonio Armstrong and his wife, Dawn, were shot inside their bedroom early Friday morning.
Family and police are trying to make sense of a crime that has torn this "all-American" family apart.
The double shooting happened at their town home in the city of Bellaire.
According to investigators, Antonio and Dawn were found shot in their bedroom.
Dawn was pronounced dead at the scene; Antonio was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he would later die.
The couple's 16-year-old son is charged with capital murder.
His name isn't available due to his young age. At this time, a motive is unknown.
"There was no neglect or anything, nothing that could even possibly justify the situation. This makes no sense," Vaun Lee, Dawn's cousin, said.
Police say nothing in the home was out of place and there were no signs of a scuffle.
A source close to the investigation told our sister station KTRK the 16-year-old called 911. The source also says a note was found by the gun, which read: "I've been watching you."
Investigators also say police have never been called to the home.
The couple's daughter, who was at home at the time of the shooting, was not injured.
The Armstrongs run First Class Training, a gym in Bellaire.
Antonio Armstrong is known for advocating health and fitness. He was a motivational speaker, posting videos on YouTube. The latest one was posted last week.
Antonio played football for Texas A&M and then for the Miami Dolphins as a linebacker. He also coached the Southwest Football League for a decade.
"This was an outstanding family," said Detective Jimmy Dotson. "The male in the family was an absolute hard-working breadwinner. He's an associate pastor at a church in the area. The mother was apparently a great mother."
