Fort Worth woman ordered shooting that killed teen, murder warrant says
After she was pushed out of a vehicle while fighting another woman, Cristina Maria Watkins stood on a Fort Worth street on Feb. 2 and yelled at her friend, “Baby, shred these (expletives,)” a warrant says.
Seconds later, a man with a pistol fired once at a vehicle that was driving away with four people in it in the 100 block of South Sylvania Avenue, the warrant says.
A bullet hit 18-year-old Lawrence Garcia Jr. in the back of his head, according to the warrant obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Wednesday. He was pronounced dead the next day at a local hospital.
Watkins, 29, was arrested a few days after the shooting and remained in custody at the Tarrant County Jail on Wednesday facing a charge of murder.
The accused shooter remained on the run on Wednesday. Police did not release his name.
The warrant written by Fort Worth Detective B. Vyers gave this brief account of the shooting. The warrant was heavily redacted:
On Feb. 2, a group of four people including Garcia drove to a house on South Sylvania Avenue after one of them received a call asking them to come over. A witness told the detective she thought it was a set-up, but the group still drove to the home.
The group arrived about 6:30 p.m. and saw five people, including Watkins, standing in the street.
As the group pulled up, Watkins stated, “Where she at? Where she at?” Someone asked “Who?,” and Watkins said “You, (expletive!)” and reached into the vehicle. The witness said Watkins, who was now in the car, yanked her hair and began throwing punches. Others in the vehicle then pushed Watkins out of the car.
After she was pushed out, the group drove away, but witnesses said Watkins ordered her friend to shoot, and he did, according to the warrant.
Witnesses heard one shot.
As they drove away, someone in the car asked if anyone was shot and they saw blood coming from Garcia’s neck area.
The group drove about a block away before they stopped and called 911.
Witnesses said as they waited for police an unknown car drove up and down the street near them, but fled when officers arrived.
Responding officers found the car near the shooting scene and conducted a traffic stop. Officers obtained the identities of Watkins and others at the scene.
Officers located Watkins at a home near the shooting scene, but she denied knowing anything about what had happened during the shooting.
Days later, Watkins and her friend were picked out of photo lineups as being involved in the fatal shooting, according to the warrant.
