A Florida resident involved in a home invasion that tragically ended with the death of a young woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

Patrick Watson, aged 52, faced a jury in Alachua County on Tuesday, where he was found guilty and handed a life sentence for orchestrating a home invasion that resulted in the death of 20-year-old D’halani Armstrong.

According to reports from local ABC affiliate WCJB, prosecutors revealed that Watson had enlisted three men, arming them with weapons, cash, and drugs, and provided detailed information about his intended target. His directive was simple: “Find a way.” On July 19, 2022, in Gainesville, Florida, just before the men initiated their plan, Watson assured them each a share of the spoils.

Throughout the trial, the jury listened to testimonies from the three individuals Watson employed for the invasion. Each had accepted plea deals and received their own sentences for participating in the crime. Watson faced charges of first-degree murder, armed home invasion, solicitation to commit armed burglary, and unlawful possession of a weapon, resulting in convictions on all counts.

Court records, as reported by WCJB, recount that Tiara Luckie drove Alderious White and Jason Ward to the house in Gainesville, remaining in the vehicle while the duo forced entry. Armstrong was the first to confront them and was shot on sight by White. Meanwhile, Armstrong’s uncle, Dovico Miles, was subdued at gunpoint by Ward.

Miles was able to get a hold of the gun and fire shots at White and Ward as they fled the home. Both men were struck and had non-life-threatening wounds. Ward was able to return to the car, and Luckie drove him away. White was arrested at the scene.

Miles was initially charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, but those charges were dropped.

Luckie, Ward, and White all testified at Watson’s trial, which the defense tried to argue was less than reliable. Watson’s defense attorney said during closing arguments that without their testimony, “they have absolutely no evidence that my client engaged in any type of criminal conduct.”

The jury, however, disagreed. The judge was also not swayed, telling Watson while handing him his life sentence, “It is my intention that you serve the rest of your life in prison, and never be released until you die. And then your body may be removed from the Department of Corrections.”