In a case that has gripped the city of Memphis, a man has been convicted for the brutal murder of his two-year-old son, a crime committed during what was supposed to be a Father's Day visit. According to Action News 5, Antonio First was found guilty on multiple counts, including aggravated child abuse, murder in the perpetration of aggravated child abuse, aggravated child neglect, and murder in the perpetration of aggravated child neglect. The jury delivered their verdict after only one hour of deliberation.
The tragic incident unfolded on June 24, 2020, when First's son, Brayton Brooks, was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at Lebonheur Children’s Hospital. "Cold to the touch" as described by paramedics upon arrival, the child's body bore signs of severe abuse with extensive bruising and ligature marks, according to reporting by WREG. An autopsy later revealed that Brayton had suffered over two dozen injuries across his 34-pound frame, including a hemorrhage to his head and a lacerated liver.
First's explanations for his son's injuries shifted multiple times, initially claiming the toddler had choked on cookies. He then pointed fingers at the boy's mother, the dogs, and even his 10-year-old son, before finally admitting to striking Brayton multiple times with a closed fist and a sandal, triggered by the child's accidental knocking over of a Wi-Fi box, as stated by Local Memphis.
Chief Prosecutor Eric Christensen conveyed the difficulty of the case: "It was difficult material to review and show the jury, but we had to do it for Brayton," he said. “What Antonio First did to him absolutely had to be punished to the fullest extent of the law, and we are proud to have accomplished that and achieved justice for Brayton, his mother, and his grandmother," Christensen said in a statement obtained by Action News 5. For the chilling crime, First has been handed a life sentence for the murder and, will face sentencing for the abuse and neglect charges on June 27.
