An Illinois man is accused of shooting at a man at a Griffith apartment complex in September then fleeing on foot.
Devonte Watson, of Evergreen Park, is charged with attempted murder, a Level 1 felony; unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony; and intimidation, a Level 6 felony.
On Sept. 14, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of N. Wood Street in Griffith for a report of shots fired, according to the probable cause affidavit. Officers were searching for a person who reportedly had been seen running from the area along the railroad tracks after the shots were fired.
A witness told police that she called 911 after Watson pulled out a gun and started shooting at one of her neighbors, court records state. The witness said Watson, who does not have a car and lives in Illinois, then ran north on the railroad tracks. Watson was observed wearing a blue coat with the words “DRIP” on it and 5 blond dreadlocks on the left side of his head, records state.
Another witness told police that he was sitting outside when Watson, who he’d only met once, started shooting at him. The witness said he ran toward the building and through the back door as Watson fired 4 to 6 shots from a tree about 88 feet away, the affidavit states. Police found 3 9mm Luger casings on the ground.
One of the witnesses was sitting on a balcony facing the courtyard when she saw Watson next to a tree, reach into a small black pouch, pull out a gun, and shoot toward the victim as he was sitting at a picnic table, court records state. Watson then fled in a northwest direction.
The victim said he had a previous interaction with Watson, who was arguing with a woman near his apartment, records state. He asked them to stop arguing because a child was sleeping and then words were exchanged.
According to court records, Watson was convicted of aggravated unlawful restraint in Cook County in 2021.
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