Man sentenced to 37 1/2 years for killing brother

HOUSTON William Phillip Norris Jr. was convicted of murder for his actions arising out of the death of his younger brother, Steven Michael Morris.

During a trial lasting over parts of two weeks, prosecutors said the defendant was enraged when he arrived at a house where his brother was staying. Witnesses testified that the defendant walked towards the victim and started shooting. The defendant claimed that his brother was attacking his father so he shot him.

Prosecutors brought forth evidence that the defendant was a methamphetamine dealer with a violent past, and a detective testified that earlier in the day at the house there had been an altercation over $2,000 between the two brothers that culminated in the shooting.

William Norris Jr. will not be eligible for parole until approximately 19 years of his sentence is served in prison.