On a Saturday evening over Memorial Day weekend in May 2021, a promising artist's life was cut short in a burst of violence at a popular waterfront venue at the Lake of the Ozarks. Vonza Watson, a 27-year-old male rapper and visual artist known by his stage name VNZA, was fatally shot at Lazy Gators, a well-known entertainment spot near Lake Ozark, Missouri. The incident occurred shortly before 11 p.m. when Watson was shot in the chest during an altercation involving several people.
He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Watson's death moved swiftly as witnesses at the crowded bar helped authorities identify potential suspects. The Camden County Sheriff's Office, assisted by the Major Case Squad, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Lake Ozark Police Department, quickly located and arrested three individuals in connection with the shooting. Authorities made a public plea for any video footage of the incident, believing that numerous patrons had been filming at the time of the shooting, which could provide crucial evidence.
Two men from Jefferson City were later formally charged in Vonza Watson's death. Chad Brewer, 29, was charged with first-degree murder and two drug-related offenses. Craig Hawkins Jr., 23, faced charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault. Court documents, citing video evidence from the scene, alleged that Hawkins had struck Watson multiple times during a fight. It is believed that during this fight, Brewer fired the shot that struck Watson in the chest, leading to his death. Watson, who had grown up in Michigan and Jefferson City, had most recently been living in the Kansas City area, pursuing his passion for music and art.
