Raphael Watts | Homicide Watch Chicago

Family: Slain father Raphael Watts, 53, enjoyed dancing

Michael Lansu — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 08:00:30 -0500

Raphael Watts / Photo from GoFundMe.com

BY KALEY FOWLER
Homicide Watch Chicago

Raphael Watts loved to dance, and his daughter called him “one of the best steppers in the land.”

Watts, 53, died after being hit in the head during a Sept. 4 fight in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, authorities said.

Prosecutors claim Robert Dixon, 26, and Antwon Williams, 33, beat Watts inside a home in the 2600 block of North Avenue because Watts allegedly "disrespected" Dixon's girlfriend.

Watts, of the 1100 block of Kane Street in Aurora, died three days later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy confirmed he died from blunt force head trauma from the altercation.

Watts’ daughter, Antoinette Smith, said her father "touched the lives of many people.”

He had three children, six grandchildren and 12 nieces and nephews.

Smith said her father loved sports, especially the Chicago Bears.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

UPDATE: Robert Dixon, Antwon Williams charged with murder in Humboldt Park beating death of 53-year-old Raphael Watts

Michael Lansu — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:39:55 -0500

Robert Dixon / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A few weeks ago, Robert Dixon allegedly punched his girlfriend so hard that he knocked her tooth out.

When the same woman called Dixon to complain about the man who “disrespected” her last week, he beat the man to death with the help of a friend, Cook County prosecutors said.

Dixon promised his 21-year-old girlfriend that he would “check” Raphael Watts, when she told him about the argument they had on Sept. 4, said Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Novy said.

Dixon’s girlfriend lived in a home in Humboldt Park with her mother and Watts, who was the mother’s boyfriend, Novy said.

After the girlfriend called Dixon on the phone to vent, he and his friend, Antwon Williams, arrived at the home in the 2600 block of North Avenue, Novy said.

The girlfriend allegedly let the two purported Spanish Cobras into the house later that night.

Watts, 53, was lying on his bed watching television with his girlfriend when Dixon and Williams came in and allegedly started hitting Watts in the head and body.

Watts started vomiting blood and was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was placed on life support and later died, authorities said.

Dixon’s attorney contended that Watts was drunk and that the incident was more of a “mutual combat” situation.

When Williams, 33, appeared in bond court on Thursday, prosecutors mistakenly identified him as the boyfriend of the woman who had summoned them.

Novy clarified Friday that 26-year-old Dixon was the woman’s boyfriend.

Williams, a married father of two from Berwyn, was ordered held on $2 million bail Thursday.

On Friday, Judge Donald Panarese Jr. also ordered Dixon, of the 1000 block of North Drake Avenue, held on $2 million bail for Watts’ murder.

The judge also set a $50,000 bond for Dixon for the alleged Aug. 19 punching incident involving his girlfriend.

Williams, married father of two, was currently on parole for a 2009 vehicular hijacking.

UPDATE: Antwon Williams beat 53-year-old Raphael Watts to death after argument with girlfriend, prosecutors say

Michael Lansu — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 16:34:24 -0500

Antwon Williams / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A married father from the suburbs allegedly beat a man to death because he disrespected his girlfriend.

Antwon Williams promised his 21-year-old girlfriend that he would “check” Raphael Watts after she complained about the argument she had with Watts on Sept. 4, said Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen Rogers.

Williams’ girlfriend lived in a home in Humboldt Park with her mother and Watts, who was the mother’s boyfriend, Rogers said.

After the girlfriend called Williams on the phone to vent, he and another person arrived at the home in the 2600 block of North Avenue, Rogers said.

The girlfriend allegedly let the pair into the house later that night.

Watts, 53, was lying on his bed watching television with his girlfriend when Williams and his friend came in and allegedly started hitting Watts in the head and body.

Watts started vomiting blood and was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was placed on life support and later died, authorities said.

Witnesses inside the house identified Williams, 33, as one of the two people who attacked Watts, Rogers said.

Williams’ cohort has not been charged, Rogers said.

Williams, a member of the Spanish Cobras, was arrested at his home on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered Williams held on $2 million bond for Watts’ murder.

Williams was currently on parole for a 2009 vehicular hijacking. The Berwyn man was just released from prison in May, Rogers said.

He also has previous drug, theft and robbery convictions.

Williams is married with two children and supports his wife and her two children, Williams’ attorney said.

Antwon Williams charged in Humboldt Park beating death of 53-year-old Raphael Watts

Michael Lansu — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 22:03:19 -0500

Antwon Williams / Photo from Chicago Police

A Berwyn man has been charged with murder for his role in the beating death of an Aurora man last week in the Humboldt Park area.

Antwon Williams, 33, allegedly struck 53-year-old Raphael Watts in the head during a fight in the 2600 block of West North Avenue about 9:40 p.m. Sept. 4, authorities said.

Watts, of the 1100 block of Kane Street in Aurora, died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 11:25 a.m. Sunday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A Wednesday autopsy determined Watts died of blunt force head trauma from an altercation and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner's office.

Williams, of the 2200 block of Scoville Avenue in Berywn, was charged with first-degree murder and a parole violation, police said. He is expected to appear in court Thursday for a bond hearing.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Raphael Watts, 53, beaten to death during fight in Humboldt Park neighborhood

Michael Lansu — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:51:36 -0500

A 53-year-old Aurora man has died from injuries suffered when he was hit in the head during a fight last week in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.

Raphael Watts was struck in the head during a fight with a 23-year-old man in the 2600 block of West North Avenue about 9:40 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Watts, of the 1100 block of Kane Street in Aurora, died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 11:25 a.m. Sunday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A Wednesday autopsy confirmed Watts died of blunt force head trauma from an altercation with another person and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire