A Florida man is in custody for allegedly shooting his half brother on Christmas day in unincorporated Naperville.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announced yesterday that the 28-year-old man from Palm Harbor, Florida, has been charged with two counts of First Degree Murder. The Court granted the defendant’s motion to continue the accused’s pre-trial detention hearing until this afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
On Christmas day at approximately 3:06 p.m., DuPage County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call of an individual who had been shot at an unincorporated Naperville home located in the 25W0-100 block of Wood Court. Upon their arrival, deputies found the victim, James Watson, inside the home with a gunshot to the abdomen. Watson was immediately transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased by medical staff.
Prosecutors allege that Watson, who was downstairs, was upset that he could not find his cell phone and slammed a card table on the floor, at which time the accused, who was upstairs, shot down towards Watson, striking him in the abdomen. Authorities found a 9mm Sig Sauer P-365X handgun and one spent 9mm bullet casing on the scene.
“On Christmas day, James Watson lost his life after his half-brother allegedly shot him in the abdomen while James was looking for his cell phone,” Berlin said. “This senseless act of violence will not go unpunished. To James’ family and friends, I offer my sincere condolences and wish them strength as they mourn the loss of a family member and come to terms with another family member accused of his murder.
