Opinion ID: 2746860
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Lamar Armstrong

Text: Lamar Armstrong was 19 years old when he was killed. His mother, Doris Hayes, testified that Armstrong had enjoyed playing football and baseball, running track, and cooking. He was a good son, worked part time at Home Base, a building supply store, and was in the process of getting his GED when he was killed. Doris had difficulty believing Armstrong was actually dead. She could not plan the funeral, and she suffered from nightmares. She testified that she missed everything about him. Holidays were particularly difficult. Part of her died when her son did and she struggled every day. Dan Hayes, Armstrong‟s stepfather, testified that he raised Armstrong from the time he was an infant. He described his stepson as a “good kid,” who enjoyed athletics and things that challenged his mind. Dan had “an empty feeling” when told at the hospital that Armstrong had died. He testified that it was very difficult to hold his family together after Armstrong‟s death. According to Dan, his wife had “problems” on the anniversary of Armstrong‟s death, on his birthday, and on every holiday. He characterized it as “a nightmare.” He testified that Armstrong‟s 26 two daughters cried on Father‟s Day because they did not understand why they could not see their father. Dan told the jury that he thought about Armstrong every day. His death affected not just the immediate family, but the extended family. Milika McCoy testified that she was Armstrong‟s girlfriend and was eight months pregnant when he died. The night before, they had attended a Lamaze class together. Armstrong had just been promoted in his job, was a very nice person, and was excited about McCoy‟s pregnancy. McCoy collapsed when she was told that Armstrong had died after being shot. After his death, she did not want to wake up in the morning. Her daughter, Cherish, was born a little over a month later. At the time of trial, Cherish was eight years old. She asked about her father “all the time” and had difficulty with not having a “daddy.” McCoy, similarly, had difficulty raising Cherish by herself. McCoy testified that she thought about Armstrong, her best friend, every time she looks at her daughter.