ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – A teenager from St. Paul has accepted a sentence of almost 11 years for the fatal shooting of another teen in an alley within the city. J’Veon J. Brown appeared in Ramsey County District Court last week and pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder related to the death of Antwan C. Watson, 16, on October 10, 2022, in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood.
After being in custody since his arrest at 16 years old, Brown is expected to serve approximately six years in jail and the remainder on supervised release. According to reports, police discovered Watson with gunshot wounds to the chest around 12:30 p.m. in an alley on E. York Avenue. Despite paramedics’ efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses at the scene pointed out Brown as the shooter.
Evidence from video surveillance at St. Paul Johnson High School, where Brown attended, showed him allegedly re-enacting the shooting, imitating a shooting stance and handling a handgun. Another teenager who was present during the incident mentioned that they were in the alley looking for a car when the shooting occurred. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, as the witness stated that Brown later messaged them over social media saying, “that’s what y’all get.”
Upon Brown’s arrest, police confiscated a 9-millimeter handgun from him, matching the caliber of the shell casings discovered near Watson’s body. Initially denying involvement and claiming to be at school during the shooting, Brown later confessed after seeing video footage of himself running from the alley. Brown mentioned that he was not close with the other teens and believed they were attempting to rob him, though details surrounding the alleged robbery remain unclear.
The case sheds light on the tragic consequences of gun violence within the St. Paul community and raises concerns about the prevalence of firearms among teenagers. Brown’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing underlying issues that may lead to such violent acts among youth. As the community mourns the loss of Antwan Watson, discussions about youth safety and conflict resolution strategies are crucial in preventing similar incidents in the future.