Gainesville, FL – A 52-year-old man, Patrick Watson, received a life sentence without parole for orchestrating a home invasion that resulted in the death of 20-year-old D’halani Armstrong. A jury in Alachua County found Watson guilty of first-degree murder, armed home invasion, solicitation to commit armed burglary, and felony possession of a weapon.
Prosecutors revealed during the trial that Watson had hired three individuals, providing them weapons, money, and information about the target. On July 19, 2022, the hired men attacked Armstrong’s home, and Watson had promised them a share of the proceeds from the crime.
Testimony during the trial came from the accomplices who accepted plea deals, detailing their involvement in the crime. Watson faced multiple charges and was convicted on all counts.
Court documents indicate that one accomplice stayed in a car while two others entered the home. Armstrong was shot soon after they entered, and her uncle, Dovico Miles, confronted the intruders, managing to disarm one and returning fire as they fled.
The defense attorney argued the testimony was unreliable, suggesting there was no substantial evidence against Watson. The jury reached its verdict, and the presiding judge affirmed that Watson would spend the rest of his life in prison.
Prior charges against Miles were dropped, and the three accomplices—Tiara Luckie, Jason Ward, and Alderious White—all testified against Watson, ultimately securing his conviction.