DALLAS — Jury deliberations are underway in the murder trial for a man accused in the shooting death of a former University of Oklahoma football player in a Dallas Airbnb in 2022 is underway.
Du’Vonta Lampkin, 25, was found shot and killed in a downtown Dallas apartment being used as an Airbnb in May 2022.
Antwan Franklin, who took the stand in his own defense Thursday, is one of three men arrested in connection with the shooting, along with John Williams and Erick Garcia.
During the trial Thursday, Franklin admitted to buying and selling marijuana as a side job and said that’s how he knew Lampkin.
Franklin alleged in his testimony that he owed Garcia money and Garcia had threatened him, and that he told Garcia Lampkin had an estimated $20,000.
Franklin said he expected Garcia and the third man to break into where Lampkin was staying and steal the money.
The defense telling the jury, “What happened? Do you know? No. You don’t have a clue what happened.” Going back to text messages sent by Franklin asking Garcia and Williams not to let Lampkin know he was involved. The defense argued those messages showed, “Antwan Franklin expected Mr. Lampkin to be alive after it happened because he said he didn’t want Lampkin to know he was involved.”
Prosecutors questioned Franklin about messages between him and Garcia which stated, “Just walk in behind him. Don’t do it until he’s at the door.”
Franklin maintained during his testimony that he was under duress and that he hadn’t wanted anyone to get hurt.
During closing arguments, the prosecution stating, “When you plan a robbery that winds up with someone dead, you don’t get to say I didn’t shoot him.” In the end, looking to the jury emphasizing, “You all promised me that you would take the law and apply it. I’m asking you to find him guilty of capital murder.”
Lampkin's friend and the friend's girlfriend told police they were renting the apartment as an Airbnb for Lampkin while he waited to move into his own apartment. They went to check on him since he wasn't answering his phone, and they found him dead.
A Dallas County jury acquitted Williams of capital murder in October. Garcia is still awaiting trial.
Lampkin used to play defensive tackle for the University of Oklahoma from 2015 through 2018. He declared for the NFL Draft in 2018 and went undrafted but eventually signed with the Tennessee Titans for just over a month before being waived.
He also played high school football in the Houston area at Cypress Falls High School.
