Houston Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Murder of 24-Year-Old

Darius Handsborough, a 29-year-old man, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of 24-year-old Devonte Antrel Purdue at a Copperfield-area apartment complex in 2020. The announcement was made by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Monday.

In August 2020, Handsborough and an unidentified accomplice went to Purdue’s apartment around 8:30 p.m. The victim was shot once in the neck when he opened the door to them. The motive for the attack appeared to be an attempt to steal marijuana, although no evidence indicated that anything was taken following the shooting.

Following his murder trial earlier this month, a Harris County jury found Handsborough guilty of the crime. In addition to the 40-year sentence for murder, he pleaded guilty to two armed robberies and received 40 years for each of those cases. These sentences will run concurrently, and Handsborough will be required to serve at least half of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Assistant District Attorney Sepi Zimmer, who is a chief in the DA’s Major Offenders Division, revealed that cell phone records placed Handsborough at the complex during the murder, and his DNA was found on the victim’s fingertips.

Kim Ogg, the Harris County District Attorney, commented on the case, saying, “Gun violence is out of control in Harris County because of cases like this in which someone thinks a handgun gives them a right to steal, maim, and kill. The victim in this case had a loving family and a bright future, and all of that was taken away from him.”

Authorities are still working to identify and apprehend the second individual involved in Purdue’s murder.