HOUSTON – For the first time since being convicted, Antonio Armstrong Jr. spoke exclusively to KPRC 2 News reporter Rilwan Balogun and Investigates Producer Jason Nguyen.
The 58-minute-long interview streamed exclusively on KPRC 2+ Thursday night and featured behind-the-scenes commentary with Balogun and Nguyen.
Hundreds of viewers joined the conversation LIVE, asking questions, leaving comments and sharing in real time whether they thought the segment was good, bad or sad.
Some of the questions we received during the livestream were from viewers who wanted to know about the evidence that wasn’t allowed in court, including death threats A.J.’s father, Antonio Armstrong Sr., had reportedly received, a copycat note, a break-in at the Armstrong gym after the murders and a possible prostitution ring.
Viewers engaged throughout the entire 2-hour interactive experience and were even able to leave a thumbs up or down, expressing how they felt the conversation was going.
Here are some of the questions and comments left by viewers:
Classic Queen: Did the detectives test AJ’s hands for gunpowder residue? Did AJ’s attorney even attempt to bring the friend who witnessed him shooting the gun prior to the murders in to testify on his behalf? The supposed finding of the blood is VERY suspect! That should’ve been found during the 1st trial not the 3rd..smdh
Abba: Rilwan Balogun just keeps getting better as his reporting goes on. Rilwan, you are awesome!
Jessied88: See his parents In what state though? How could he just assume that they were dead? I would most def hope that they were maybe shot in the leg or the bullets missed them. I find it odd that a kid wouldn’t check on their parents. It’s just sad. I’m still on the fence about all of this.
Janice: My only comment is that I do not think AJ murdered his parents. I have never thought that he did it from the very beginning of murder of his parents. I believe that an innocent person —AJ—is wrongfully convicted.
Raquelll: I don’t blame AJ for being frustrated by the blood evidence. The fact that they didn’t discover that for seven years...doesn’t look good. But the jurors specifically said that they disregarded the blood evidence completely. The alarm, the cell phone records, his continual lying, etc. proves his guilt. He would have been convicted without the blood evidence.
Suga2008: Who initially put the sticker on AJ? Whoever put the sticker on AJ should have seen the blood!
Shunrekia: Where was AJ when his brother girlfriend called the police stating his parents were murdered
SpdTeacher2die4: Did he call his brother before 911? But yet, he was afraid of his brother?
Kelly Neathery: I know y’all are supposed to keep your personal opinions out of it… but can y’all tell us how y’all feel? Do y’all agree that he’s guilty? Do y’all think he is innocent? Do y’all agree that the blood spatter evidence was planted? I understand if y’all can’t answer these questions… but I’m beginning to feel crazy over thinking he is guilty but convicted on circumstantial evidence. Why was it so hard to prove his guilt? This is a kid we are talking about. He wasn’t a criminal mastermind.
Nisey 6558: Good reporting guys. Informative and interesting. Still a lot of unanswered questions that I don’t think we will ever get answers to.
HtxLaw713: He was definitely framed for these murders. Why wasn’t the jury sequestered after the voir dire? Especially with trial delayed 7 weeks.
Watch the video below for Balogun and Nguyen’s responses to viewers’ questions, and also hear the context they provided regarding some of the things A.J. discussed that happened during the trial.