Devaris Watson, a 29-year-old resident of Memphis, Tennessee, tragically lost his life on June 5, 2019, in Long Beach, California. The incident occurred during a transaction involving the sale of a large quantity of marijuana. Watson, along with Kevin Williams, a 32-year-old from Lynwood, California, and Marquise Harris, a 26-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee, were involved in the deal. The transaction took a violent turn when Watson and Williams disagreed over the terms, leading both men to brandish firearms and shoot at each other inside a vehicle. Watson sustained gunshot wounds to his upper torso and was transported by Harris to a hospital in Gardena, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Williams was found deceased at the scene with similar injuries.
The Long Beach Police Department launched an investigation into the incident, which revealed that the altercation was related to the illegal marijuana trade. Harris, who was not injured in the shooting, was arrested the following day at a motel in Garden Grove. During the investigation, detectives served search warrants at various locations, recovering two firearms believed to be involved in the shootings, approximately two pounds of marijuana, and around $15,000 in cash. The evidence was examined by the Long Beach Police Department's Forensic Science Services Division.
On June 10, 2019, the case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. Harris faced charges of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. He was held at a Los Angeles County Correctional Facility on $35,000 bail. The authorities determined that the incident was an isolated occurrence, specifically related to the illegal drug trade, and continued their efforts to gather more information and interview witnesses to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
