Community works out to remember couple allegedly shot by teen son
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Henry Davis said Saturday's work out was especially difficult.
It wasn't the physical strain but rather the emotional one that made it difficult. Davis worked with 1st Class Training gym owner Antonio Armstrong. Police say Antonio and Dawn Armstrong were murdered Friday morning. Their teenage son is charged in the crime.
On Saturday morning, Davis and a group of eight others held a boot camp in the Armstrong family's honor.
"He always said you have to keep going; you have to keep going so that's what I'm doing," said Henry Davis, a trainer at 1st Class Training.
"We love the Armstrongs and of course we're really sad. We're really upset about their tragedy. We wanted to honor their names and their spirit," said Donald Kohn, who attended the boot camp to support the Armstrong family.
"He's one of a kind. He's a really close friend of mine. I'm going to miss him. He taught me a lot. I learned a lot over the years working for Antonio. it's going to be hard," said Davis.
Davis says they plan to continue to hold boot camps and workout sessions in the Armstrongs' honor.
The impact Antonio Armstrong and his wife Dawn have had on the southwest Houston community is undeniable to those who knew them.
Coach Stephen Hill got to know the couple when he coached their sons at The Kinkaid School. Hill now coaches football at St. Pius X High School.
"You know, I'm a big bad football coach, but deep down inside, sometimes you have to have a good cry," Hill said.
Hill couldn't speak highly enough of Antonio.
"He wasn't afraid to give me a hug. Every time he saw me he came up and gave me a hug, told me to put the Dr. Peppers down," Hill said. "Always trying to be a good motivator and friend, always trying to help."
That is why he was devastated when he heard Antonio and Dawn were shot Friday morning and their 16-year-old son was arrested.
Antonio played football at Texas A&M, in the Canadian Football League and in the NFL. In Houston, he was known for being a fitness advocate, coach and even an associate pastor in Bellaire.
Vicky Franco helps with the children's ministry at Spirit of Life Church with the Armstrongs.
"He and his wife and the children have just served over here continually," Franco said. "They're just the typical American family. They love their children, and they have taught their children the things of the Lord."
In a YouTube video Antonio posted recently, he talked about the tragedies the U.S. has faced lately.
"There has been some sort of evil that has come forth and brought these tragic events to be," Antonio said in the video.
Now, Coach Hill and the rest of the southwest Houston community is struggling to understand this tragedy.
Dawn and Antonio's 16-year-old son is charged with the shooting. Dawn was found dead at the scene in the couple's bedroom. Antonio was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he's listed in critical condition.
