In the early morning hours of May 9, 2021, a dispute that began over a vehicle tragically escalated, ending the life of 23-year-old Jermaine Taylor 'Red' Watts in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The Black or African American man from Gulfport was at the Third Base Lounge when the fatal encounter unfolded. First responders found Watts unresponsive on the side of Highway 90 around 3:30 a.m. He had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident stemmed from an argument in the parking lot of the lounge. Witnesses stated that Watts was involved in a dispute with other patrons when Joseph Alonzo Haynes approached him. Haynes then fired a 9mm handgun multiple times, striking Watts four times. During the subsequent trial, it was established that Watts was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
Joseph Alonzo Haynes, a man from Pass Christian with no prior criminal history, was arrested in connection with the shooting. He admitted to shooting Watts but claimed he acted in self-defense. However, the prosecution presented evidence that contradicted this claim, including testimony from the chief medical examiner who revealed that one of the fatal gunshot wounds was to Watts's back.
In June 2023, following a three-day trial, a jury deliberated for about an hour before finding Joseph Alonzo Haynes guilty of manslaughter. He faced a potential sentence of up to 20 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Following the verdict, Haynes was immediately taken into custody to await sentencing.
