Tragic Incident During Facebook Live Stream
A Chicago father was shot and killed while live streaming on Facebook, surrounded by family and friends. The victim, Kevin Watson, 42, was streaming from his parked car in the South Austin area around 6:14 PM on Wednesday.
During the broadcast, Watson spoke about a parking dispute he had just faced. Suddenly, he exclaimed, “Hell, no!” and exited his vehicle. This was followed by what seemed to be a physical confrontation just out of view of the camera.
A single gunshot pierced the air moments later, and an unsettling silence filled the audio. Soon after, the sound of a car door closing could be heard, along with a vehicle driving away. In the background, screams erupted, with one person urging, “Call the police!” as another suggested applying pressure to Watson’s wounds.
He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Notably, the shooting occurred just a few blocks from a police station.
A video clip of the incident circulated social media, amassing nearly two million views by Friday afternoon. Some of Watson’s loved ones were watching the live stream, leading to an outpouring of grief. His friend, Freddie Collier, remarked on the need to find strength to cope with the loss.
Watson, who had a six-year-old son, was killed just before his birthday. He was near a liquor store where his cousin worked, having visited him shortly before the tragic event. Watson’s cousin, Jack Miss, relayed that Watson appeared to be struggling to breathe during the encounter.
Lamar Spencer, Watson’s best friend, recounted trying to comfort him, saying, “I rubbed his palm and squeezed his hand, but he wouldn’t squeeze it back.” Another friend, Alvin Jackson, described how a man had followed Watson back to his car before pulling out a gun, emphasizing that Watson was known for helping others.
Investigators are currently looking into the case, but no arrests have been made yet. As of Friday, Chicago police had not provided further comments regarding the incident.
In 2025, there have been a troubling 903 shootings and 249 murders reported in Chicago. The previous year recorded 1,432 shootings and 359 murders.
