EDWARDSVILLE – A Madison County jury on Thursday, May 14, 2026, convicted Tara A. Anderson of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of her ex-boyfriend, Phillip Armstrong, after prosecutors said she fired a .45-caliber handgun toward him outside her home in Granite City, and jurors rejected her claim that she intended only a “warning shot.”
Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced the verdict in Edwardsville, following a trial that began Tuesday, May 12, 2026, and was presided over by Circuit Judge Amy Maher. The jury deliberated a little more than three hours before returning the verdict Thursday afternoon, May 14, 2026.
Anderson, 40, fatally shot Armstrong, 39, on Sept. 24, 2023, outside her home in the 1400 block of Madison Avenue, according to the state’s attorney’s office.
In addition to the murder conviction, the jury made a special finding that Anderson personally discharged a firearm during the commission of the offense. First-degree murder is punishable by 20 to 60 years in prison, and the firearm enhancement means a term of 25 years to life will be added to her murder sentence.
Anderson will be sentenced at a later date.
Evidence and testimony presented by Assistant State’s Attorney Morgan Hudson, chief of the Criminal Division, and Assistant State’s Attorney Lauren Maricle showed that Armstrong had gone to Anderson’s residence, at her request, to retrieve a vehicle.
In her closing argument, Hudson told jurors that Anderson had previously told people she wanted Armstrong dead. Minutes before the shooting, Hudson said, Anderson told a person in her home that she was “going to kill that (expletive).”
“These were not idle threats. They were promises,” Hudson told jurors. “She’s a woman of her word.”
Jurors rejected the defense claim that Anderson intended only to fire a “warning shot.” Anderson testified that she fired the shot “to scare him away.” Hudson argued there was no need to “scare away” Armstrong, who was only on the roadway removing the vehicle as Anderson had requested.
Anderson exited the residence and confronted Armstrong, who was trying to load the vehicle onto a trailer. Anderson went back into her home, then came out with a .45-caliber handgun and fired a shot toward Armstrong. The bullet went through a wooden fence and struck Armstrong, prosecutors said.
Haine thanked jurors and said, “No one gets to claim ‘warning shot’ after firing directly into an area where they know a person is standing. The law is absolutely clear: If you shoot at someone and hit them, that is not an accident. That’s murder.”
Haine also commended the Granite City Police Department, which led the investigation, and assisting agencies, including the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services.
“The evidence gathered by them and presented by our prosecution team showed the defendant was angry, armed, and looking to inflict harm,” Haine said.
Several members of Armstrong’s family attended the trial.
“We continue to hold Phillip Armstrong’s family in our prayers,” Haine said. “The victim’s family has endured unimaginable pain throughout this process. We hope today’s conviction provides them with a measure of justice.”
