Jerry Watts, aged 39, was tragically killed on August 27, 1991, in Columbus, Ohio. The incident occurred at his residence on Briggs Road. Watts was shot after answering a knock at his front door. The Columbus Police Department investigated the case for over two decades, initially unable to determine the identity of the shooter. The case went cold until advances in fingerprint analysis and witness testimonies led investigators to reexamine the evidence.
In 2015, a breakthrough in the investigation led to the arrest of Anthony Taylor, who was charged and ultimately pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection to Jerry Watts' death. Taylor, who was 43 years old at the time of his plea, was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison. Despite this resolution, authorities did not publicly specify the motive behind the killing, and details regarding the circumstances leading to the shooting remain sparse.
The Ohio Attorney General's Office and the Columbus Police Department continue to keep the case file open for any additional information that could shed more light on the incident. Community members are encouraged to come forward if they possess any further details that might assist in fully understanding the events leading up to Jerry Watts' death.
