Matthew David Watson, a 26-year-old male from Monroe, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on August 17, 2016. Matthew, who was a talented self-taught artist and a self-employed handyman, was known for his love of drawing and making rap music. He was the son of Herbert Watson Jr. and Betsy Gosa, and was preceded in death by his grandparents Barbara Gosa, James Gosa, and Herbert Watson Sr.
On the evening of August 17, 2016, Matthew Watson was involved in a fatal shooting incident at a residence on Ruben Road, just south of Monroe. The Union County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the scene of a double shooting, where they found Matthew Watson and another individual, Bentley Winfred Ivey, who had also been injured. The investigation revealed that Trenton Lamontez Chambers, 20, and Bentley Winfred Ivey, 18, both from Wingate, North Carolina, had driven to the residence to engage in a drug transaction. During the transaction, Chambers and Ivey attempted to rob one of the two men in the home, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Matthew Watson was killed in the shootout, while Ivey sustained injuries and was treated and released from Carolinas Medical Center.
Following the incident, Union County Sheriff's Deputies arrested Trenton Lamontez Chambers and Bentley Winfred Ivey. Both suspects were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Matthew Watson. The arrests were made after deputies located Chambers and Ivey at a nearby church, where they had fled on foot after the shooting. The case garnered significant attention in the local community, as it highlighted the dangers associated with drug-related activities and the tragic loss of a young life.
