In May of 2024, both James (victim pictured on the left) and Roderick Watson were attending an awards ceremony at North Marion Middle School in Citra, Florida. James is the biological father of the children that were attending the ceremony, Watson the fiancé of the the children's mother. James wanted to take the children home with him that night and their mother said no which caused an argument. Watson got out of the car and shot and killed James in the parking lot of the school with his children watching. Once the victim was on the ground, Watson proceeded to get on top of him and beat him over and over in the face. James died at the hospital; he had six gunshot wounds. Watson tried to claim self-defense; however, James was holding the hand of his child at the time and witnesses present stated that James did nothing but talk to the couple.  This incident happened exactly one month prior to Watson's wedding to the children's mother.