Kelvin Dawkins Two men turned to a still-grieving family in Cherokee County Court last week and apologized for their actions.

"I really am sorry," said Kelvin Lamar Dawkins. "That's from the heart."

When it was Tomaine Deal's turn, he said he was caught up in something in which he wanted no part. "If I knew what was going on, I wouldn't been involved," he said.

While neither pulled the trigger that claimed the life of 24-year-old college student, Furman Scott Armstrong on Jan. 4, 2008, both admitted responsibility for their actions that day.

Dawkins, 25, who provided a loaded 12-gauge shotgun to the admitted triggerman, was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment through a negotiated plea agreement for being an accessory before the fact to murder, first degree burglary and armed robbery.

Deal, 24, who provided the transportation to and from the Fleming Road home where Armstrong was shot and killed during a home invasion, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for being an accessory after the fact to murder, first degree burglary and armed robbery.

Tomaine Deal The trigger man, Justin Byers, 21, previously pleaded guilty to murder and other charges and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Charges against a fourth man, 19-year-old Chas L. Smith, have not been resolved. Smith is accused of providing directions to the Fleming Road residence on the night of Armstrong's death.

The charges stemmed from a Jan. 4, 2008, incident during which Byers, armed with a shotgun, kicked in the door to a Fleming Road home at 1:30 a.m. to commit a robbery. He demanded, "Give it up," from the first person he came across — Furman Armstrong.

Assistant Solicitor Michael Morin, who prosecuted the cases, said Armstrong replied he had nothing to give and Byers responded by pulling the trigger, striking Armstrong in the face and head and killing him instantly.

Byers then proceeded to rob Armstrong's brother and fled from the home with $2,000 to $3,000 in cash.

Byers reportedly split the money with the three men who had accompanied him that night, and Deal admitted he was instructed to "take it to the grave," meaning that he should keep his mouth shut.

His defense attorney said, however, that Deal didn't "take it to the grave." So bothered and upset by what happened, Attorney Bill Rhoden said, Deal had his family contact a Cherokee County Sheriff's Office investigator to talk about what happened.

Furman Armstrong, a 2001 graduate of Broome High School and a student at Southern Wesleyan University in Greenville, was staying with his brother during the winter break from college and was just preparing to start his final semester. Several months after his death, Armstrong's mother attended graduation ceremonies at Southern Wesleyan, where she was presented a diploma in her son's name.

Members of the Armstrong family did not address the court during Dawkins' sentencing, which was previously negotiated, but did so during Deal's. Dawkins had actually entered his plea last Friday in Spartanburg County, but wasn't sentenced until Monday in Cherokee County.

Kendrick Armstrong, who was the ultimate target of the armed robbery, asked Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes not to give Deal a slap on the wrist. "This guy was an escape man in a murder," he said.

Furman Armstrong's twin brother also addressed the court, asking that Deal get the maximum sentence. "He's not remorseful," the brother challenged.

Deal also pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of cocaine for an Aug. 29, 2008, incident during which investigators executed a search warrant at his residence and found a quantity of cocaine in the home. That charge occurred while Deal was out on bond for the Jan. 4, 2008, murder.

Judge Hayes directed the South Carolina Department of Corrections to keep all three men sentenced in the case separated from each other while incarcerated.