On April 9, 2023, at approximately 9:44 p.m., the Bertie County Communications Center received a distressing call reporting that a male individual had been shot and was not breathing. Sheriff's deputies promptly responded to the residence on NC 42 between Powellsville and Colerain, North Carolina, where they discovered 58-year-old Tony K. Watford deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
A family member had arrived earlier to perform a welfare check and found Watford's lifeless body, immediately notifying authorities.
Early in the investigation, law enforcement identified Watford's son, 25-year-old Mckenzie Raquez Watford, as the primary suspect in the homicide. Consequently, warrants were issued for his arrest on charges of first-degree murder and larceny of a dog. Authorities considered Mckenzie Watford to be armed and dangerous, urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the Bertie County Sheriff's Office.
After an extensive search spanning several months, on July 18, 2023, law enforcement officials in Chesterfield, Virginia, apprehended Mckenzie Watford. He was taken into custody without incident and was held in Chesterfield pending extradition to Bertie County to face the charges against him. Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin expressed gratitude to the Investigations Division of the Bertie County Sheriff's Office, the Greenville Police Department's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team, and the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office for their collaborative efforts leading to the arrest.
The tragic death of Tony K. Watford and the subsequent arrest of his son have profoundly impacted the Colerain community. As the legal process unfolds, residents remain hopeful for justice and healing in the wake of this familial tragedy.
