Chicago is reeling after 42-year-old Kevin Watson, known to his friends and family as “Tugg,” was shot and killed while streaming live on Facebook in the city’s South Austin neighbourhood on Wednesday evening, August 13.
The brazen attack played out in real time, with loved ones and social media viewers witnessing Watson’s final moments in a video that has since gone viral, amassing nearly 2 million views within two days.
The Incident
Kevin Watson had been visiting his cousin’s job site on West Madison Street, a stretch of Chicago’s West Side known to locals. The live stream began shortly after Watson got into his car, voicing frustrations about a parking dispute. Moments later, gunfire erupted.
Video and eyewitness accounts describe Watson exchanging words with an unknown individual near his car before a gunman approached from another vehicle. The suspect, reportedly masked and wearing dark clothing, fired a single shot at Watson, striking him in the chest. First responders rushed Watson to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Community Impact
The shocking death, which played out publicly for thousands online, has devastated Watson’s family, including a six-year-old son left behind. “I wouldn’t have let him walk out the store. He was a good man. No matter what he done, he helped people,” a relative shared, underscoring Watson’s reputation as a community figure who provided support and encouragement to those around him.
Investigation
Chicago Police are investigating the shooting, but as of August 15, no arrests have been made. Police say the shooter may have known Watson, with witness statements suggesting a possible confrontation preceded the gunshot.
Surveillance footage and additional cell phone videos are being reviewed to track the suspect vehicle, which left the scene heading for the Eisenhower Expressway. The murder marks the second fatal shooting on the same city block in one week, heightening calls for increased safety and urgency in the investigation.
Viral Aftermath
The tragic livestream has drawn national attention, raising questions about the intersection of social media, violence, and public trauma. Authorities and loved ones have asked for discretion in sharing the video, urging the public to respect the family’s privacy during an unimaginably painful time.
Kevin Watson’s life, cut short just weeks before his birthday, has left a void in his community and reignited conversations about gun violence in Chicago
Watch the video below: