Man charged for fatal shooting in Cotopaxi
A 63-year-old man is facing a manslaughter charge after allegedly shooting another man last September in Cotopaxi.
The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Monday that Earl Scott Watkins was arrested for the killing of 27-year-old Jonathon Kern. Kern was killed on Sept. 22, and his death was one of four in the county last year.
The Canon City Daily Record obtained a copy of the affidavit for Watkins’ arrest. Watkins told investigators that he saw muzzle flashes coming from a hill pointed in his direction and heard gunshots. He said he then got his rifle and started firing at the muzzle flashes in response.
Kern and another man, Devin Nielsen, were on the hill; the affidavit says Kern had struck a deer with his truck and fired several shots to “put it out of his misery,” Nielsen told investigators. Nielsen said he thought he heard echoes from Kern’s shots in the distance, but they turned out to be shots from Watkins’ rifle.
Watkins said he thought he was being fired at, but he said he only saw tail lights and muzzle flashes. He returned fire between the taillights, according to the affidavit obtained by the Daily Record.
Kern was hit once in the upper middle of the back and died.
The Daily Record reports that another witness told investigators she questioned Watkins’ story and said she “had the impression” that Watkins knew it was Nielsen and Kern that had been shooting, based on comments Watkins had allegedly made. Watkins had allegedly confronted Kern in the past for his driving habits in the area.
Watkins was arrested on Friday and was held on a $25,000 cash-only bond.
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The man who was shot dead Saturday night in Cotopaxi has been identified, and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office is noting a big rise in homicide cases.
Jonathan Kern, 30, was identified Wednesday as the victim who was found dead in the driveway near K Path and 30th Trail.
Deputies are following leads, but no arrest has been made in Kern’s death.
During a news conference Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said there are five open homicide cases since 2017, which is the most open cases they’ve seen in 17 years. The sheriff’s office said none of the homicides are related to each other, but drugs are suspected in some of the homicides.
