A trial date has been set for two juveniles and an adult charged in the March fatal shooting of 19-year old Alijah Watts at a convenience store on Fort Campbell Boulevard.
Juveniles Joshua Cotton and Jonathon Weston are charged with murder and 20-year old Christian McKeel is charged with complicity of murder in the death of Watts at Casey’s General Store on the night of March 2nd. Cotton also faces additional charges of first-degree robbery and theft by unlawful taking (firearm).
Attorneys for the three defendants appeared before Christian Circuit Court Judge John Atkins for a pretrial conference Wednesday morning and asked for a trial date to be set. Judge Atkins set a jury trial for the week of September 25, 2023.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling said he is hoping they will reach a resolution with the defendants before the scheduled week-long trial.
click to download audioAccording to Hopkinsville Police, Cotton allegedly shot Watts during an attempted robbery at Casey’s General Store. Detectives said McKeel and Weston helped lure Watts to the store. McKeel is also accused of helping Cotton and Weston leave the area after the shooting.
Weston and Cotton remain lodged in the McCracken Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Paducah and McKeel is being held in the Christian County Jail.
