Everrick Houston given 3 life sentences with no parole for killing pregnant woman, baby in Bradenton home invasion

BRADENTON -- Everrick "Jermain" Houston was found guilty Friday of killing Crystal Johnson, who was six months pregnant, and her unborn child during a home invasion in Bradenton in 2009.

The verdict came after the jury deliberated about seven hours.

Houston was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and armed home invasion.

After the verdict was announced, Circuit Judge Deno Economou sentenced Houston to three life prison sentences without possibility of parole.

In early morning July 12,

2009, up to three masked men stormed into the home Johnson shared with her mother, sister and boyfriend in the DeSoto Village Apartments and opened fire.

Johnson's boyfriend and the father of her baby, Lawrence "JT" Funsch, returned fire.

Johnson was rushed to Manatee Memorial Hospital where she died. Her baby, Lariah Faith Funsch, was delivered in an emergency cesarean section but died eight hours later.

Johnson's family rejoiced quietly. Afterward, family members hugged and thanked Assistant State Attorney Art Brown.

Houston was fingerprinted and immediately escorted from the courtroom.

"I can't get my family back, and I can't go home, but neither can he," Johnson's mother, Susan Moore, said outside the courthouse. "And that makes me happy because he gets to miss the same things I do, my girls, and gets to miss his, too."

She smiled, more than she had in nearly seven years, she said, saying it felt like she finally had justice.

"He's going to cry, too, like I do, and he is going to know how I feel, just like I do," Moore said.

Houston's family began exiting the courtroom as the verdict for each count was read, instantly erupting in an uproar as they walked into the hallway. They cursed, and some said Houston was convicted because he is black.

Deputies escorted them from the courthouse while other deputies waited with Johnson's family, prosecutors and media to be escorted separately afterward.

Jurors listened to testimony Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from detectives, experts and doctors.

After the shooting, Houston was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his chest, which the prosecution said he suffered when Funsch shot at the intruders.

When Houston took the stand in his own defense, he said he was shot while on his way to visit another woman after dropping off his then-girlfriend's car at his cousin's mechanic shop.

Initially, at the hospital, Houston told a detective he had been shot while walking down the street by a "Mexican" with a shotgun.

During his next interview, he told the detective he had been walking past the complex going from his cousin's house to his brother's house to get a ride.

Houston's first trial in the case in 2014 ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Co-defendant, Gregroy Kennon, was convicted of identical charges in 2012 and sentenced to life in prison.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 11:50 PM with the headline "Everrick Houston given 3 life sentences with no parole for killing pregnant woman, baby in Bradenton home invasion ."