The man accused of shooting and killing an Amazon truck driver in Lathrop nearly two weeks ago made his first appearance before a judge Tuesday afternoon. At the San Joaquin County Courthouse, 29-year-old Andrew Christopher Watson appeared wearing an orange jumpsuit, shackled at the wrists. He kept quiet other than answering a few questions from the judge. Watson was read his rights and officials charges which included first-degree murder with an enhancement for intentional discharge of a firearm. The judge said that the charge alone carries a sentence of up to 50 years to life in state prison. San Joaquin County Chief Deputy District Attorney Mark Ott said he would not reveal too many details of the case so that it would not be jeopardized. A motive for the shooting remains unclear, and Ott did not comment on whether any weapons were recovered. Ott did say a lot of evidence was gathered from the community leading to Watson’s arrest, but that gathering it was not easy as many cars were on the road when the shooting happened. “I will say without contradiction, it was the unparalleled efforts by the investigators of the California Highway Patrol who relied on civilians, witnesses, businesses, trucking companies — everybody came together — the community came together to put together enough evidence that we’re able to make an arrest,” Ott said. “Without community involvement, this wouldn’t have happened.”Watson did not have an attorney with him but was appointed a public defender by the judge. Ott said a lot of information still needs to be processed in the coming weeks and that a preliminary hearing would be the next step. “There’s a lot of evidence. I will, in the process of making copies of it, get it to the defense. We’ll try to get that in as fast as possible,” Ott said. Further arraignment is scheduled for July 25. Watson will remain in jail without bail. Who was the big rig driver shot, killed in Lathrop?Officials identified Ilkhom Shodiev Friday as the driver of an Amazon truck who was shot while traveling on Interstate 5 in Lathrop on Thursday afternoon. The California Highway Patrol said after the shooting, the 18-wheeler truck barreled off the busy highway and slammed into a business in an industrial park.While the truck hit two parked vehicles, they were unoccupied and nobody else was hurt, officials said.Shodiev lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and two young children, ages 1 and 3, Azami said.“He was a man of principles — always tried to reach out a helping hand to others,” said Aziz Azami, a family friend.Read more about Shodiev here.
The man accused of shooting and killing an Amazon truck driver in Lathrop nearly two weeks ago made his first appearance before a judge Tuesday afternoon.
At the San Joaquin County Courthouse, 29-year-old Andrew Christopher Watson appeared wearing an orange jumpsuit, shackled at the wrists.
He kept quiet other than answering a few questions from the judge.
Watson was read his rights and officials charges which included first-degree murder with an enhancement for intentional discharge of a firearm.
The judge said that the charge alone carries a sentence of up to 50 years to life in state prison.
San Joaquin County Chief Deputy District Attorney Mark Ott said he would not reveal too many details of the case so that it would not be jeopardized.
A motive for the shooting remains unclear, and Ott did not comment on whether any weapons were recovered.
Ott did say a lot of evidence was gathered from the community leading to Watson’s arrest, but that gathering it was not easy as many cars were on the road when the shooting happened.
“I will say without contradiction, it was the unparalleled efforts by the investigators of the California Highway Patrol who relied on civilians, witnesses, businesses, trucking companies — everybody came together — the community came together to put together enough evidence that we’re able to make an arrest,” Ott said. “Without community involvement, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Watson did not have an attorney with him but was appointed a public defender by the judge.
Ott said a lot of information still needs to be processed in the coming weeks and that a preliminary hearing would be the next step.
“There’s a lot of evidence. I will, in the process of making copies of it, get it to the defense. We’ll try to get that in as fast as possible,” Ott said.
Further arraignment is scheduled for July 25.
Watson will remain in jail without bail.
Who was the big rig driver shot, killed in Lathrop?
Officials identified Ilkhom Shodiev Friday as the driver of an Amazon truck who was shot while traveling on Interstate 5 in Lathrop on Thursday afternoon. The California Highway Patrol said after the shooting, the 18-wheeler truck barreled off the busy highway and slammed into a business in an industrial park.
While the truck hit two parked vehicles, they were unoccupied and nobody else was hurt, officials said.
Shodiev lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and two young children, ages 1 and 3, Azami said.
“He was a man of principles — always tried to reach out a helping hand to others,” said Aziz Azami, a family friend.
Read more about Shodiev here.
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