“He Was Going to Be a Father”: 3 Arrested in Cold-Blooded Murder of 18-Year-Old Florida Teen

Oakland Park, FL — Nearly a year after 18-year-old Ammon Watson was gunned down in broad daylight, the Broward Sheriff’s Office has announced three arrests in a case that left a family shattered and a community stunned.

Watson, who was expecting his first child, was found shot and lifeless in a driveway along Northwest 28th Street on August 24, 2024. He had just stepped outside around midday — perhaps to meet someone or just to get some fresh air. Moments later, he was dead.

For months, his family begged for answers, lighting candles in the street where he was killed and pleading with the public to come forward. “My son had dreams,” said his mother, tearfully at a vigil last fall. “He was about to be a father. Someone took that away — from him, from us, from a child who will now grow up without knowing his dad.”

The 3 Arrests

On July 11, 2025, after an extensive investigation that spanned nearly 11 months, BSO confirmed the arrests of three suspects:

• Ta’Narine Hamilton, 18

• Khalil Elie, 22

• Morris King Jr., 19

All three are residents of Lauderhill, and all three have now been charged with first-degree felony murder.

According to investigators, Hamilton was already in custody on unrelated charges when he was formally linked to Watson’s murder. Elie was arrested June 16, and King was apprehended July 10, just one day before the public announcement.

Authorities have not publicly disclosed the motive, leaving many in the community wondering what sparked such a cold and calculated act.

What Happened That Day?

Witnesses say Watson was approached by a group of young men just before shots rang out. The shooting appeared targeted, though the precise motive remains unclear. After the attack, the gunman fled on foot, disappearing into the mid-afternoon sun. No arrests were made that day. There was no chase. No recovered weapon. Just silence — and a grieving family.

“It wasn’t just another crime scene. That was my brother lying in the driveway,” said Watson’s sister Monique, who raced to the location after a neighbor called her. “He was only 18. He hadn’t even figured life out yet.”

A Young Life Stolen

Ammon Watson had just graduated high school. He had plans to begin working full-time to support his girlfriend and their unborn child. “He was nervous but excited,” a friend said. “He kept showing me ultrasound pictures. He wanted to be a good dad.”

His death left a permanent hole in the lives of his loved ones — especially his mother, who now helps care for her grandchild. “Every day I see his face in that baby,” she told reporters. “And every day I have to explain why his daddy isn’t here.”

Justice in Motion

The three suspects are currently being held without bond in Broward County. The state attorney’s office has not confirmed whether it will pursue the death penalty, but a grand jury indictment is expected soon.

Legal experts say the case could take 12–24 months to go to trial due to the severity of the charges and the number of defendants involved.

Meanwhile, the Watson family is vowing to show up to every court hearing.

“We prayed for justice — and it’s finally starting to come,” Monique said. “But it won’t bring him back.”