A 42-year-old Chicago man was fatally shot whilst broadcasting a Facebook Live video in the city’s South Austin neighbourhood, with the horrific incident viewed nearly two million times before being removed from the platform.
Kevin Watson, known to friends as “Tugg”, was killed at approximately 6:14pm on Wednesday in the 5000 block of West Madison Street, mere blocks from a local police station, according to Chicago Police Department officials.
The tragic shooting unfolded just moments after Watson left his cousin’s workplace at a nearby liquor store to begin streaming from his car. What started as a routine social media broadcast ended in tragedy when an unknown assailant approached and opened fire.
“He was choking for breath,” Watson’s cousin Jacquez Smith told ABC7. “He was trying to struggle to breathe.”
Close friend and witness Alvin Jackson provided a harrowing account of the incident: “He was talking to a guy, and he was going to his car, then the guy followed behind him. So, the guy followed behind him and pulled the gun on him. He was trying to wrestle with the gun, and the gun went off.”
The Facebook Live video, which continued streaming for several minutes after the shooting, captured Watson stepping out of his vehicle before gunfire erupted. According to multiple witness accounts, the confrontation began as a parking dispute before escalating into an attempted robbery.
In the footage, Watson could be heard shouting “Take the f***ing chain!” moments before being shot once in the chest. The suspect, described as wearing a black ski mask, allegedly demanded Watson’s jewellery before opening fire.
“I rubbed his palm and I squeezed his hand, and he wouldn’t squeeze back,” said Lamar Spencer, another close friend who witnessed the shooting and attempted to comfort Watson in his final moments.
Watson was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:52pm, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. The father leaves behind a six-year-old son and was just weeks away from celebrating his birthday.
Smith, who worked with Watson at the liquor store, expressed deep regret about the tragedy. “I wouldn’t have let him walk out the store,” he said. “He was a good man. No matter what he done, he helped people, you know? He helped me get this job in here.”
The shooting marks the second homicide on the same block in just 48 hours. On Monday, 26-year-old Brandon Maxey was killed in an apparent drive-by shooting nearby, amplifying concerns about safety in the violence-plagued neighbourhood.
Area Four detectives are investigating the killing as a targeted robbery, with surveillance footage from nearby businesses reportedly showing the suspect fleeing in a white vehicle towards the Eisenhower Expressway. No arrests have been made as of Thursday afternoon.
Close friend Freddie Collier reflected on the devastating impact of Watson’s death on the community. “We’re going to have to figure out how to move on and be strong, day to day, to help each other get pass this, because this didn’t just hurt one person. This hurt a lot of us.”
The brazen nature of the crime, carried out in broad daylight and streamed live to thousands of viewers, has reignited discussions about gun violence in Chicago’s most troubled neighbourhoods. South Austin consistently ranks among the highest areas for shootings and homicides in the city.
Community advocates point to longstanding socioeconomic challenges including poverty, limited employment opportunities, and underfunded public services as contributing factors to the ongoing violence. The proximity of recent crimes to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s neighbourhood has intensified calls for increased police presence and investment in youth programmes.
Chicago Police have urged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the department’s official tip line as investigators work to identify and apprehend the suspect.
The incident adds to Chicago’s troubling gun violence statistics, with the city continuing to grapple with hundreds of homicides annually despite various intervention strategies and community outreach programmes.
Watson’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief on social media, with tributes describing him as a beloved community figure known for his willingness to help others. Friends remember him as someone who, despite his own struggles, always made time to support those around him.
As the investigation continues, Watson’s family and friends are left to mourn a life cut tragically short, captured in its final moments for millions to witness online.
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