In the fading light of Thanksgiving Day 2015, a violent confrontation shattered the holiday peace in Montgomery, Alabama, leaving 34-year-old Anthony Packer and his 24-year-old wife, Sherika Huffman Packer, dead from gunshot wounds. The tragic events unfolded at the couple’s home, where an altercation with their next-door neighbor escalated to a fatal conclusion.
The dispute reportedly began when Steven Varnado, who lived next door, came to believe that the Packers were responsible for
a break-in at his residence. In a misguided quest for retribution, Varnado, accompanied by his brother Kelly Varnado and another man, Donte Cooper, forced their way into the Packers' home. The intrusion quickly turned violent.
Inside the residence, Steven Varnado physically assaulted Sherika’s brother, Legarian Huffman, punching him in the face and shooting him in the hand. The violence then turned deadly as Varnado shot both Anthony and Sherika Packer in the chest. Anthony Packer died at the scene, while his wife was transported to a local hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.
In the aftermath of the double homicide, Steven Varnado was arrested and charged with capital murder. In December 2018, a Montgomery County jury found him guilty of the murders of Anthony and Sherika Packer, as well as the attempted murder of Legarian Huffman. Following his conviction, Varnado was sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The two other men involved, Kelly Varnado and Donte Cooper, were also charged in connection with the incident and were awaiting trial.
