Toya Wright’s Brothers’ Murderer Sentenced To Life In Prison

Three years ago, Toya Wright‘s family was shaken by the devastating news that her brothers, Ryan and Joshua Johnson — 24 and 31, respectively — were fatally shot in New Orleans.

Now, the gunman, Antoine Edwards, has reportedly been convicted on two counts of second-degree murder and has been sentenced to life in prison.

According to Nola.com, Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier handed Edwards the mandatory life sentence on Monday (September 30) before the Johnson family. While none of them chose to speak at the sentencing, they reportedly displayed relief when the decision was read.

The sentence comes weeks after a New Orleans jury found Edwards, 34, guilty after just two hours of deliberation that followed a three-day trial.

As previously reported, Ryan and Joshua were found deceased while sitting in a car shortly after midnight on July 31, 2016. Their vehicle was reportedly still running. An investigation into the double homicide lead authorities to Edwards who was identified by witnesses as the person seen escaping the scene after the incident took place.

He was thus arrested for the murders that prosecutors allege occurred after the brothers visited Edwards to purchase marijuana. Prosecutors explained that Edwards was reportedly upset with them because they used the front door of his “trap house” where he also dealt other substances. 

“Two lives are lost over a door and some weed,” Assistant District Attorney Ashley Spears said, according to Nola.com. “This man got upset because these two men went to the front of the trap house instead of the back, and he shoots them.”