Watkins acquitted in fatal shooting at Sikeston park

CENTERVILLE, Mo. — A Sikeston, Missouri, man was acquitted of all charges against him related to the April shooting death of another man at a park.

Tanner Watkins, 20, of Sikeston was acquitted on Wednesday, Dec. 13 of nine separate felony charges, including first degree murder, armed criminal Action, first degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon, according to his defense attorney Russ Oliver of Dexter, Missouri. Watkins faced life without the possibility of parole if convicted of the April 25 shooting that killed 18-year-old Isiah Fitzgerald of Sikeston and seriously injured an 18-year-old female of Chaffee, Missouri, at a Sikeston park.

Oliver filed a motion for judgment of acquittal after a jury could not reach an unanimous verdict in the trial, which was Nov. 27-Dec. 2, in Reynolds County on a change of venue.

A Reynolds County judge granted the motion on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Gregory Goodwin, chief counsel for Public Safety Section for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, served as lead attorney for the prosecution.

Oliver issued a statement concerning the trial and acquittal.

“The actions of Tanner Watkins that day to save his brother’s life were selfless and heroic, not criminal,” Oliver said. “The evidence presented over the course of the week-long trial established that Tanner Watkins came to Rotary Park that day for a fist-fight. Instead, what Tanner and his brother Tyler drove into was an ambush. As Tanner entered the park, Tyler was in a separate vehicle driving behind him.”

According to Oliver, both vehicles were fired upon by Levi Morgan and “K.M.” Levi Morgan was firing two separate weapons, an AR-15 style .300 blackout ARP and a .40 caliber Glock with a 30 round magazine. “K.M.” was firing a 9mm Walther handgun.

“Early in the course of the ambush, Tyler’s car was immobilized after being struck by a .40 caliber bullet fired by Levi Morgan. Tyler and his passenger were 100% unarmed and gunshot residue tests confirmed neither had fired a weapon that day. Tanner’s brother and his passenger were sitting ducks in the middle of the open park as the Morgan brothers continued to rain down dozens of bullets on their immobilized car,” Oliver said in his statement.

As Tanner was leaving the park after having been shot at by the Morgan brothers, he realized that his brother’s car was not moving and was still being shot at by the Morgan brothers, Oliver said.

“It was only at this point that Tanner stopped his vehicle, stood in the open park drawing the fire off his brother’s car and onto himself and then returned fire (with a gun that was always in his vehicle) to save his brother’s life and the life of his brother’s passenger,” Oliver said. “In addition, the evidence presented at trial failed to prove that Tanner actually shot either of the victims. It appeared from the evidence presented at trial that the victims were in fact inadvertently shot by the Morgan brothers as they wildly sprayed the park with bullets.”

Oliver said this case and the actions of Tanner Watkins on April 25 was a clear lawful use of self-defense and defense of another.

“Anyone put in Tanner’s unfortunate position would have done whatever was necessary to save the life of his brother and his friend,” Oliver said.

Kaleb Michael Ramsey, 19, of Morehouse, Missouri, was also charged through Scott County for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting. He was charged with first-degree murder; armed criminal action; three counts of first degree assault; and four counts of unlawful use of a weapon, according to online court records.

Ramsey was scheduled for a plea/trial setting at Thursday, Dec. 14 in Scott County Circuit Court, according to online court records.

According to initial reports from Sikeston Department of Public Safety, officers responded on the afternoon of April 25 to the area of Sikeston Rotary Park located at 300 Industrial Drive in Sikeston in reference to reports of gun fire to investigate the incident and were able to locate the scene where the shooting took place. Officers located and identified all people involved in the incident. During the investigation, it was determined there were two victims from the shooting: Fitzgerald who was pronounced dead at a local hospital and the female who sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported for medical care.

Sikeston DPS Criminal Investigations Unit investigated the incident along with assistance of The Southeast Missouri Major Case Squad comprised of investigators from Sikeston DPS, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Scott County Sheriff’s Office and the New Madrid County Sheriff’s office.

Ramsey and Watkins were identified as suspects and arrested by investigators.