Man found guilty in 2015 Thanksgiving killing of Montgomery couple

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - A Montgomery jury has found Steven Varnado guilty in the 2015 Thanksgiving killing of a Montgomery couple.

A jury found Varnado, 28, guilty of three counts of capital murder and two counts of intentional murder in the shooting deaths of Anthony Packer, 34, and Sherika Huffman Packer, 24. He was also convicted of the attempted murder of LeGarian Huffman.

Varnado is facing a mandatory prison term of life without the possibility of parole. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Jimmy Pool in January, District Attorney Daryl Bailey announced on Thursday.

According to Bailey, on Nov. 26, 2015, Varnado and two others went next door to the Packers’ house. Varnado believed the Packers were responsible for break-ins at his home in the 2000 block of Endicott Drive, Bailey said.

LeGarian Huffman answered the door and Varnado punched him in the face. According to witnesses, Varnado and his family fought their way into the Packers’ home, and Varnado went back to his house for a gun.

Varnado returned to the Packers’ house and shot Anthony Packer and Sherika Huffman Packer in the chest, and LeGarian Huffman in the hand. The Packers died at the scene, Bailey said.

“Steven Varnado will die behind prison walls because of the violent rampage he committed on Thanksgiving Eve 2015. Now the Packer family will associate the holiday with the brutal murder of their loved ones because of the stupidity of Steven Varnado," Bailey said.

Bailey praised deputy district attorneys Ben McGough, Damon Lewis and Scott Green for their hard work in the case, as well as district attorney investigators Denny Merritt and T.D. James. He also thanked the Montgomery Police Department, specifically lead Det. Guy Naquin for their work.

“The Packers’ left behind a 4-year-old precious girl who now is without her mother and father due to Varnado’s crime. I hope this conviction and eventual sentence will send a strong message to our community that when you commit such a violent act, you face the reality of taking the rest of your breaths on this earth behind prison walls,” Bailey said.

Co-defendants Kelly Varnado, 24, and Donte Cooper, 26, have not been to trial.