In what began as a quiet day in Chesapeake, Virginia, ended in a tragic loss of life for 19-year-old Derwin DJMarcel Watts II on April 22, 2012. The young man was inside an apartment on Canal Drive with his mother and a friend, Michael Temple, when his mother's ex-boyfriend, Charles Collins, made an unwelcome and armed surprise visit. The situation quickly spiraled out of control as Collins, who had a key to the residence, let himself in and barricaded the door with furniture, effectively
taking the occupants hostage.
In a heroic effort to save his mother, Derwin wrestled with the much older Collins. During the struggle, Collins, armed with a pistol, shot the teenager. Despite his injuries, Derwin managed to get his mother out of the apartment to safety. He and his mother both ran from the house, but it was not immediately apparent to his mother that her son had been shot. Emergency services were called to the scene, and a SWAT team was dispatched as the situation escalated into a tense standoff.
Derwin DJMarcel Watts II was rushed to Norfolk General Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his gunshot wounds. The other hostage, 40-year-old Michael Temple, was also fatally shot by Collins during the ordeal. After the SWAT team made entry into the home, Collins was shot and wounded, but he survived his injuries.
Following the violent incident, Charles Collins was arrested and faced a series of serious charges, including first-degree murder and abduction. The ensuing legal proceedings brought some measure of justice for the victims and their families. Collins was convicted for the murders of both Derwin Watts and Michael Temple and subsequently received life sentences for his crimes. The community was left to mourn the loss of two lives, particularly that of a young man who died protecting his mother.
