A Merrillville man is charged with killing a family friend at a July 4 party.
Ronald Watson, 29, is charged with the July 4 murder of Joseph Bonds, 24, of Glenwood, Illinois.
The U.S. Marshals arrested Watson on Nov. 21 in Ripley, Tennessee.
His next court date is Dec. 17.
Bonds was later taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he died July 9.
Merrillville Police responded July 4 to the 7300 block of Whitcomb Street. Bonds was found lying out front and he was transported to the hospital.
Witnesses said the men argued about “old stuff” before Watson shot him.
Bonds was pushed out of the apartment to a car after trying to start a fight, witnesses said.
He went back to the apartment and banged on the door. Watson came out with a gun.
“What are you gonna shoot me? You gonna shoot me,” Bonds said.
At that point, one of Watson’s sister got in Bond’s face to fight him, the affidavit states.
Watson threw a bottle at Bonds and missed.
Bonds charged Watson, but slipped and fell on the sidewalk. Watson took out a gun and shot him in the right side of the head, documents allege.
His sister told police it was “self-defense.”
Earlier, a witness said Bonds made “inappropriate sexual comments” to Watson’s 13-year-old niece.
Watson ran around the building, got into a woman’s car and took off.
