The case involving a Cotopaxi man who allegedly shot and killed 27-year-old Jonathon Kern in 2018 is moving forward after the defendant’s second preliminary hearing yesterday.
Judge Ramsey Lama found probable cause to pursue the recently filed charge of first-degree murder against 63-year-old Earl “Scott” Watkins. Original charges still stand, reckless manslaughter and second-degree assault.
The Canon City Daily Record is reporting that in September of 2018, Watkins said he was at home at 1112 29th Trail in Cotopaxi when he saw an unfamiliar truck driving up the road. He said he then heard five to six shots, which he believed came from a semi-automatic pistol.
Watkins told investigators that he thought someone was shooting at a neighbor, so he retrieved a firearm form his house and fire four shots in the direction of the truck to “scare them off” hitting and killing Kern.
Watkins is being held on a no-bond hold pending his bond hearing on Friday.
A trial date has not been set.
