On the evening of October 20, 2025, tragedy befell 18-year-old Rakeeb 'Jaqai' Watson in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The young man, who had graduated from high school the previous year, was shot and killed near North 18th and Park Streets around 6 p.m. Witnesses reported that a man approached Watson and two other individuals, initiating a confrontation. When a juvenile attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation, the man stepped back, drew a handgun from his waistband, and opened fire.
Despite immediate efforts to save him, Watson succumbed to his gunshot wounds at the scene. The Dauphin County Coroner later officially ruled his death a homicide.
The man identified by witnesses as the shooter was 32-year-old Javar Dejuan Geter. After the shooting, Geter fled the scene. In a tragic turn of events, it was later discovered that Geter was also responsible for another fatal shooting and carjacking that same night on Market Street. The victim in that incident was identified as 31-year-old Corey Hartz, who passed away from his injuries several days later. Geter turned himself in to the Harrisburg Police on October 21, 2025. He was subsequently arrested and held at the Dauphin County Prison without bail. The charges filed against him included murder, carrying a firearm without a license, and recklessly endangering another person. Court records revealed that Geter had prior felony convictions for aggravated assault and weapons offenses.
Family and friends remember Rakeeb Watson as a smart, athletic young man with a bright future ahead of him. A talented piano player who also enjoyed Jiu-Jitsu and Karate, he was described as a courageous, funny, and kind-hearted individual. He was a beloved older brother to his younger sister and two younger brothers, who looked up to him. His family, devastated by the sudden and violent loss, organized a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses and to support his mother and siblings during their time of grief.
