Arizona – In a disturbing case in Arizona that caught nationwide attention, two brothers, identified as 22-year-old Dayvon J. and 23-year-old Antwan J. Jr., are facing criminal charges after a violent altercation with their 41-year-old father, identified as Antwan J. Sr., ended in his death. Authorities say the brothers are accused of fatally assaulting their father inside the family’s home during what they claim was a confrontation that turned physical.
Following the incident, both brothers were arrested and charged with aggravated assault. Additionally, Dayvon faces a second-degree murder charge, reflecting the seriousness of the violence that unfolded. Police say the brothers admitted to choking and striking their father after an argument escalated into a physical struggle. The case has raised difficult questions about domestic abuse, self-defense, and the long history of alleged violence inside the home. According to interviews with investigators, both sons told police they had been living in fear of their father for years and that the fatal incident came after a lifetime of threats and past abuse.
The fatal event occurred early on a Wednesday morning. At approximately 6:30 a.m., police officers responded to a call about “unknown trouble” at a residence. When they arrived, officers found Antwan Sr. unresponsive inside the home. Officers initiated CPR until emergency medical crews arrived, but despite their efforts, Antwan Sr. was pronounced dead at the hospital. The circumstances surrounding his death became clearer as court documents and interviews revealed chilling details.
The night before, the brothers said an argument broke out after Antwan Jr. expressed that he didn’t want to interact with his father anymore. The tension spilled into the next morning while the brothers were playing video games in their shared bedroom. Their father entered the room, allegedly antagonizing them and forcing them to fight or leave his home. The brothers said their father then punched Antwan Jr. in the face, causing a bloody nose. In response, Dayvon reportedly put his father in a chokehold, leaning back and holding him tightly for about 15 seconds. During that time, Antwan Jr. admitted to punching their father several times.
According to the probable cause statement, Antwan explained to investigators that he started hitting his father only after being struck himself. He claimed the blow caught him off guard and left him in shock, prompting a reaction driven by fear and confusion rather than intent to cause serious harm. This response, as described by police, suggests Antwan Jr.’s actions were immediate and emotionally charged, triggered by the sudden physical assault during an already tense confrontation. After roughly 15 seconds, the brothers reported hearing a “grunting noise,” and then their father went limp. At that point, Dayvon released the chokehold, and Antwan Jr. stopped striking him. Dayvon said he immediately fled the house, fearing his father might recover and retaliate. Antwan Jr. followed, later telling police he was afraid his brother would be harmed if their father regained consciousness.
The brothers eventually called 911 and turned themselves in, telling dispatchers that they believed they had acted in self-defense. They later described their father as someone who had frequent “outbursts” and regularly threatened them. They also said they had reached a breaking point and just wanted to be left alone. Other family members corroborated a history of violence. Their mother and younger siblings told police that Antwan Sr. had previously strangled and assaulted Antwan Jr., reinforcing claims that the household had long been fraught with abuse.
Both brothers remain in custody at the county jail, each being held on a $500,000 bond. As of now, the investigation remains open, and the legal proceedings are ongoing. What began as a plea for peace inside a tense household ended in tragedy—and now, two sons face the weight of the law for a deadly confrontation with the father they say they feared.
