The panel took about 20 minutes to reach a murder verdict, then chose life in prison after hearing from family, coworkers and attorneys.
HOUSTON, Texas — A Harris County jury convicted Anthony Martin Landry of murder on Dec. 10 and sentenced him to life in prison on Dec. 11 for the 2024 killing of civil lawyer Jeffrey Limmer outside a McDonald’s on the Katy Freeway.
The rapid sequence capped an 18-month timeline that began May 4, 2024, when a dispute over a Filet-O-Fish escalated from the counter to the parking lot. Limmer, 46, tried to defuse the argument and pushed Landry toward the door, testimony showed. Landry fell, walked to his car, armed himself and then fired repeatedly as Limmer approached the exit with his order, according to prosecutors. Jurors viewed surveillance video and heard from witnesses before returning a swift guilty verdict. The next day, the same panel took roughly 90 minutes to decide punishment, settling on life with parole eligibility after 30 years.
Prosecutors told jurors the shooting was intentional and disproportional to any threat. In closing arguments, prosecutor Keegan Childers said Limmer “uses his words,” not deadly force, and emphasized video evidence. Limmer’s father described the number of shots in a quiet courtroom and asked jurors to remember his son’s character. Coworkers from Lewis Brisbois said Limmer was dependable and generous. One colleague told the court Limmer once donated bone marrow to save his brother’s life, a detail jurors heard during the punishment phase.
Defense attorney Kenneth Cager argued self-defense and told jurors Landry feared another confrontation after being shoved outside. He said Landry believed he left his wallet inside and armed himself before reentering. The defense presented no mitigation witnesses and asked jurors to consider the minimum punishment allowed. Prosecutors countered that Landry’s prior felony record and the repeated shots weighed against leniency. Court records show Landry, 59, turned himself in six days after the shooting and faced an unrelated aggravated assault case while on bond at the time of the killing.
Police and trial testimony placed the shooting at about 6 p.m. at the McDonald’s near Chimney Rock and Interstate 10. Customers and an employee tried to help Limmer before paramedics pronounced him dead. After the verdict, the courtroom heard statements describing Limmer as a “gentle giant.” A nearby park has since been renamed in his honor, and colleagues said his office remains untouched, a quiet memorial. Before sentencing, Landry rose from his wheelchair to apologize to Limmer’s family.
With sentencing complete, Landry awaits transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Appeals are possible, but no hearings were set as of Friday. The case now moves from the district court’s docket to post-trial review and record preparation this month.
Author note: Last updated January 9, 2026.