Jermar Watters, a 32-year-old African American male from Columbus, Ohio, tragically died on June 22, 2020. He was born on July 23, 1987, and attended Mifflin High School and Marion Franklin High School. Jermar was known for his dedication to football and his close-knit family. He was deeply loved and will be remembered fondly by his family and friends.
The circumstances surrounding Jermar's death involved an altercation with Kevin Johnson, a 57-year-old man.
On the day of the incident, Johnson was at the home of his long-term girlfriend in the 1000 block of East 17th Avenue. After getting into an altercation with Jermar, Johnson left the house, only to return later with a gun. An exchange of gunfire ensued between Johnson and Jermar, resulting in Jermar being critically injured. He was transported to OSU Wexner Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries less than three hours later.
Kevin Johnson was arrested on July 28, 2020, and initially charged with murder. However, he later pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a three-year firearm specification. On March 6, 2023, Johnson was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with 952 days of jail credit already served since his arrest. The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office prosecuted the case, and Johnson admitted to the shooting during his plea deal.
The loss of Jermar Watters has deeply affected his family and community, and the legal proceedings have brought some measure of justice for his untimely death. His memory lives on through the love and stories shared by those who knew him best.
