Kevin Watson’s Facebook Live turned deadly, what began as a parking dispute ended in tragedy.
Kevin Watson—known affectionately as “Tugg”—On August 13, 2025, around 6:14 p.m., was broadcasting from his car in the 5000 block of West Madison Street. He’d just been chatting about a parking dispute when everything went dark. That nearby parking lot, a place he’d probably driven by countless times, became a tragic backdrop.
In the Facebook Kevin Watson’s Live stream, you can see Watson speaking calmly. Maybe he was joking or venting about someone taking a spot. Then, a car pulls up beside his. He steps out with his hands in the air, like maybe he thought it would de-escalate things. Just three seconds later—bang. A single gunshot. Silk-ruffling chaos.
His cousin, who had been just steps away at a jobsite, watched the live video in horror. She recalled how helpless she felt—as she watched him struggle to breathe on that hot asphalt. Jacquez Smith later told police, “He was choking for breath.”
Another witness, Alvin Jackson, says Watson seemed to know the shooter—and that he actually tried to wrestle the gun away before it fired. It wasn’t a random act; it felt painfully personal.
Paramedics rushed in, attempts were made to Kevin Watson, but ultimately he succumbed to his wounds. He was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital. The next day, the Cook County Medical Examiner confirmed his identity.
Who was Kevin Watson?
Kevin “Tugg” Watson, 42, wasn’t just a face on a livestream—he was a neighborhood fixture two blocks from where he died, a devoted father to a six-year-old, and someone known for his laid-back humor and community presence. He often streamed on Facebook Live, combining candid rants about everyday life with moments of connection.
What Happened—At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
| What happened | Kevin Watson was fatally shot during a Facebook Live stream. |
| When it happened | Wednesday, August 13, 2025, around 6:14 p.m. |
| Where | 5000 block of West Madison Street, South Austin, Chicago |
| Circumstance | A live parking dispute turned deadly, likely an attempted robbery |
| Aftermath | Watson died at the hospital; no arrests made yet |
| Online impact | The livestream has been viewed by more than two million people |
| Investigation | Police are investigating, but motive and suspect remain unknown |
…And all of it unfolded with the world watching. The video went viral, viewed more than two million times within a day—a cruel testament to our era’s attention.
This isn’t just another stat in a report on crime. Kevin Watson lived just two blocks from that spot—a father, a neighbor, someone from that very neighborhood. For people watching that stream, it wasn’t distant news—they saw his final moments, unfolding live.
His cousin’s words still linger: “I wouldn’t have let him walk out the store,” she said. “He helped people… he helped me get this job.”
Livestreamed Crime: Not the First, Won’t Be the Last
The live broadcast of Kevin Watson’s final moments on Facebook is disturbing—but unfortunately not unique:
- In Buffalo, 2022, a racially motivated mass shooting was broadcast on Twitch. Even after moderators removed the live stream within two minutes, copies proliferated across platforms, prompting debates over content moderation and free speech.
- In Christchurch, New Zealand, 2019, the shooter livestreamed the attack on Facebook. The video was shared widely—nearly 1.5 million copies were removed in the 24 hours that followed.
These cases teach a sobering lesson: once violent content is released, it spreads uncontrollably. As media expert Rasty Turek notes, removing a live feed quickly is one thing—but preventing it from being reshared endlessly is a far larger challenge.
For now, South Austin is left reeling—not just for the violence, but for the public way in which it happened. Questions about local safety, the perils of live-streamed emergencies, and what justice looks like keep circulating on porches, social feeds, and among the people who knew him.
In the coming days, investigators hope to fill in the blanks: Who pulled the trigger? Was this about revenge—or just a parking quarrel gone fatal? Meanwhile, the city grieves—and continues to watch.
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