In a tragic turn of events on August 20, 2019, Christopher Charles Watson, a 34-year-old male from Lenoir City, Tennessee, was fatally shot. The incident stemmed from a dispute over money for drugs, which escalated to a fatal confrontation.
The man responsible for Watson's death, John Duwayne Dixon, 41, also of Lenoir City, went to a residence near Highland Park School with his ex-girlfriend to demand payment from Watson. During the ensuing altercation, Dixon shot Watson in the chest.
Following the shooting, Dixon and his ex-girlfriend fled the scene, heading north on US Hwy 11.
Law enforcement officials were quick to respond, and Dixon was apprehended at his home in Lenoir City shortly after the incident. A female who was with Dixon at the time of his arrest was initially detained for questioning but was later released and considered a witness in the case. Dixon was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a handgun.
In January 2023, John Duwayne Dixon pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Christopher Watson. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison for his crime.
