Carbondale man found guilty in shooting incident from 2019

JACKSON COUNTY, Ill. (KFVS) - A witnesses testimony helped convict a Carbondale, Il. man of a Class X Felony after a three-day trial in Jackson County.

According to Jackson County State’s Attorney Joseph Cervantez, the jury convicted Antonio Watson, 40, on a charge of Armed Habitual Offender on Thursday, March 3.

The case stems from an incident on October 20, 2019 when Watson pistol whipped and shot Rafael Jordan, Cervantez stated in a news release.

The victim survived the shooting but later died in a vehicle crash before the case went to trial, according to Cervantez.

Jordan was the only eyewitness to the shooting, Cervantez said, but Assistant State’s Attorney Jayson Clark was able to convict Watson with the help of a witness who saw Watson in possession of a firearm but did not see the actual shooting.

The witness cooperated “despite receiving repeated threats relating to her testimony,” Cervantez said.

Watson is awaiting sentencing at the Jackson County Detention Center. He faces six to 30 years in prison.