A Harris County jury delivered its final decision Thursday in the high-profile case of Anthony Martin Landry, the 57-year-old man who shot and killed 46-year-old Jeffrey Limmer at a west Houston McDonald’s on May 4, 2024.
The shooting, which occurred at the restaurant located in Chimney Rock around 6 p.m., drew widespread public attention due to the circumstances leading up to the confrontation and the violent escalation that followed.
Landry was found guilty of murder on Wednesday after jurors deliberated for only about 20 minutes, indicating that they reached a swift and decisive conclusion about his responsibility in Limmer’s death.
The punishment phase began the following morning. During this stage, Landry’s defense team presented closing arguments, urging the jury to consider their claim that Landry acted in self-defense.
Prosecutors countered that the evidence showed a deliberate and intentional act, arguing that Landry’s actions before and after leaving the restaurant clearly demonstrated intent rather than fear for his life.
After hearing both sides one final time, the jury reconvened late Thursday morning. By approximately 12:15 p.m., they returned with their decision: a life sentence for Landry.
Testimony during the trial painted a picture of how the confrontation unfolded. Prosecutors explained that the incident began with a dispute between Landry and a McDonald’s employee over his order, reportedly a Filet-O-Fish sandwich.
Witnesses described Landry raising his voice at the worker, prompting Limmer—another customer inside the restaurant—to step in and tell Landry to stop yelling at the employee. According to prosecutors, a brief verbal exchange followed before Landry left the building.
Instead of walking away from the situation, he went to his vehicle, retrieved a firearm, reentered the restaurant, and shot Limmer multiple times. Prosecutors argued that these actions showed clear intention and deliberation.
Landry’s defense attempted to frame the encounter as self-defense, but prosecutors maintained that the facts did not support that narrative. Jurors ultimately sided with the prosecution, convicting Landry and delivering a life sentence the next day.
Jeffrey Limmer, the victim, was an attorney working as an associate at the Houston office of the Lewis Brisbois law firm. According to his firm biography, he attended the University of Texas at Austin before earning his law degree from South Texas College of Law. Colleagues and community members expressed shock at the violent nature of his death, describing him as a respected professional and a valued member of the firm.
The conclusion of the trial brings some closure to a case that has lingered for more than a year and a half, leaving a lasting impact on Limmer’s family, friends, and colleagues, as well as on the community that followed the proceedings closely.
Video Credit: KHOU 11