Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said a jury convicted a Flint man on Tuesday, July 20, in the 2018 shooting death of another man in the parking lot of Club 69, on South Saginaw Street, just south of downtown Flint.
Keith Devon Turner, 35, was found guilty on all counts including first degree murder, assault with intent to murder, felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and three related counts of felony firearm related to the death of Anthony Watson, Jr., 33.
According to testimony at trial, the shooting took place at approximately 2:30am the morning of November 23, 2018 just after Watson had gotten into his vehicle and was getting ready to leave the parking lot. Watson was struck five times by bullets and was attempting to drive himself to Hurley Medical Center when he crashed his vehicle on Saginaw Street near Union Street.
“The violence on our streets is devastating to our community,” Leyton said. “It has become almost second nature for some individuals to resort to violence including murder to settle disputes. The other sad commentary on the state of affairs not just in Flint but around the country is how witnesses are being intimidated and are becoming scared for their own lives if they step forward to testify or offer information to police. We had that going on in this case and it has a very chilling effect on our efforts to seek justice for the victim, his loved ones and the greater community. Thankfully, we were able to make our case, and the jury rendered a just verdict.”
Turner faces life in prison without parole when he is sentenced on September 14.
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