An Ocala man accused of fatally shooting the father of two of his fiancée’s children in the parking lot of a Marion County middle school was denied bond this morning during his first appearance in court.
On Friday morning, 34-year-old Roderick Kelvin Watson, Jr. was arraigned in Marion County Court. He is being charged with second-degree murder in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, in the parking lot of North Marion Middle School located at 2085 W Highway 329 in Citra.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the middle school after receiving reports of a shooting. When deputies arrived, they located a man, identified as 32-year-old Joseph James Coles, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, according to MCSO.
The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The sheriff’s office stated that the victim was found in the school’s northwest parking lot, just west of the cafeteria. At the time of the shooting, the middle school was hosting an awards ceremony that was attended by dozens of parents and children.
The deputies located the suspected shooter, identified as Watson, sitting on a nearby bench, and he was detained in handcuffs without incident. The report stated that Watson told deputies, “I’m the shooter,” and he informed them that the firearm was inside his vehicle, according to the report.
According to MCSO, an ensuing investigation revealed that Watson and the victim had a verbal argument in the school’s parking lot. Witnesses told detectives that Watson pulled out a handgun and shot the victim, who was unarmed, multiple times before punching the victim as he lay unconscious on the ground.
Watson claimed that the incident was self-defense, though the sheriff’s office stated that “evidence and witnesses contradicted his claim.”
On Friday, Watson’s arraignment was held, and he was seen smiling throughout the appearance. The judge informed him that he is being charged with second-degree murder with a firearm.
Watson requested a public defender before answering questions about his weekly income. He told the judge that he earns a weekly income of $700, and he mentioned that he helps support his eight children.
As the arraignment continued, the judge informed Watson that he cannot have contact with his fiancée. “Well, you do understand that now?” asked the judge. “You can’t call her or anything while you’re in jail.”
Watson stated that he understood and then asked, “Is that it?”
At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge also informed Watson that he is facing an additional charge for operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license.
Watson is currently being held at Marion County Jail without bond. His next court date has not been scheduled yet, according to Marion County Court records.