41-year-old convicted of capital murder in 2021 shooting death of man in eastern Jefferson County
A 41-year-old man has been convicted in the 2021 shooting death of another man in eastern Jefferson County.
A Jefferson County jury on Thursday found Terrell Maurice Watts guilty of capital murder in the slaying of 48-year-old Anthony Raynard Grayson.
Circuit Judge Michael Streety sentenced Watts to life in prison without the possibility of parole because the case was not death penalty eligible.
Jefferson County deputy district attorneys Charissa Henrich, Blake Owens, Nikki Franks and Ja’Quan Norwood prosecuted the case. Watts was represented by the Jefferson County Public Defender’s Office.
A man died at Bama gas on Center Point Parkway Friday after he was shot nearby and was taken there for help.
Investigators said the shooting happened Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, near the Charter East Apartments in Center Point. Someone then drove Grayson to Bama gas station where he was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:39 a.m.
Investigators at the time said Grayson was in the front passenger’s seat and the suspect in the back seat when the deadly shooting happened.
Authorities quickly identified the suspect as Watts, and patrol and K-9 units mounted a search.
Terrell Maurice Watts was taken into custody by Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies on 18th Avenue N.W. (Photo courtesy of Devonta Wimes)
Watts was taken into custody about 9:30 a.m. the same day on 18th Avenue N.W. in Center Point.
Watts has remained in the Jefferson County Jail without bond since his arrest nearly two years ago. At the time of his arrest, he had previously been convicted of robbery.