Prosecutors: Courtney Watson fatally shot his mother's boyfriend, Andre Knight, outside their Austin home

Michael Lansu — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 09:52:40 -0500

Courtney Watson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Courtney Watson was ordered held without bond Wednesday for allegedly shooting his mother's longtime boyfriend last month in their Austin neighborhood home.

Watson, 31, is accused of fatally shooting 46-year-old Andre Knight behind their home in the 4800 block of West Concord Place about 4 a.m. June 23, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Knight had been dating Watson's mother for about 15 years, and the three lived together in the Austin home.

Knight became suspicious that Watson stole his identity, and the two had an ongoing dispute, prosecutors said.

Just before the shooting, Knight left his home to go to his newspaper delivery job, but when his car parked on the street didn’t start he went to a car in the garage and was shot moments later, family and neighbors said. His girlfriend heard a gunshot and saw her son run into the home, prosecutors said.

Responding officers found Knight dead in his car with a gunshot wound to the head, prosecutors said. The revolver used in the shooting was found inside a bag in the garage.

Knight was declared dead at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Watson initially told police a gunman entered the garage, shot Knight in the head, dropped the gun and ran away. Watson said he panicked and hid the gun in the garage, prosecutors said.

Watson later changed his story and said he wanted to kill himself and Knight tried taking the gun from him, and the shooting happened during a struggle, prosecutors said.

After the shooting, Watson immediately washed his clothes and told police "that is how [he] deals with stress," prosecutors said.

After initially being interviewed, Watson complained of pains and attempted to stab a paramedic with scissors en route to the hospital, prosecutors said. He also hit and kicked the paramedic and a detective in the ambulance, prosecutors said. He was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer and paramedic and held on $100,000 bond.

He was also sentenced to probation for a 2011 burglary case.

Courtney Watson | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Courtney Watson fatally shot his mother's boyfriend, Andre Knight, outside their Austin home