Mom mourns son killed live on TikTok a day after confirmation of UWI degree

A mother is now regretting sending her son outside to get fresh air, only for him to be murdered by gunmen a day after receiving his status letter from The University of the West Indies (UWI).

Keauno ‘Popsy’ Watson, 23, was elated when it was confirmed Sunday that he had successfully completed his degree in international relations (IR) and psychology, and sent his mother, Sandra Blair, a screenshot of the letter.

“Him say, ‘Mommy, mi finally done with UWI. Mi can get a peace of mind’,” Blair told The Gleaner at their Dames Road home in Allman Town, Kingston.

She said Watson, the youngest of her three children, was her life and her heartbeat, and was expected to graduate from The UWI in October.

He is a past student of St George’s College and, according to his family, had big dreams to pursue and was clinging to hope that he could eventually move his family from the ghetto.

Reports are that, about 7:45 p.m., Watson and another man were standing along the roadway when armed thugs approached and opened fire on them.

Both were rushed to hospital where Watson was pronounced dead and the other man admitted in serious condition.

The Gleaner understands that the deadly shooting was captured on TikTok Live.

Blair has heard about the video but has not seen it herself.

HER SHINING STAR

She was tearful as she spoke of her shining star.

“He was so humble to live in the ghetto… him always a listen. What hurt mi most of all, him inna him bed a sleep and mi say ‘Popsy, go get some fresh air out a door’. Yesterday him tell mi him never sleep last night, him say, ‘Mommy, give me two pill’. Mi say, ‘Yuh want coffee’. Him say, ‘No’. Mi never know say him out there when mi hear the shot,” Blair said.

She was distraught when she was told that he was shot and said she could not bare to see him laying on the ground.

“Any how mi did go there and see the body, a two body would lay down there, ‘cause mi couldn’t get up back alive, the way mi break up in a million pieces,” Blair told The Gleaner.

She said she was in church on Sunday when Watson shared the good news that he was going to graduate.

She said less than $2,000 was owed to the university and that Watson, who usually works and travels to help pay his tuition, was going to clear the balance.

“Him say, ‘Don’t borrow no student loan. Mi waan work and take you away from ya so’. Him say to work with Government to pay back the student loan won’t make any sense, so mi beg and mi borrow, mi give him $1,000 fi him lunch money and him say, ‘Mommy, how yuh fi give mi $1,000 and mi have evening shift?’ Mi say, ‘Popsy, make a sandwich’.”

SOMBRE LOOK

His father, who was on hand giving comfort to the family and relatives, had very few words to offer and carried a sombre look on his face.

“Mi just have to stay strong for everybody. Him is just like mi, when mi finish work mi just pass everybody and say ‘Hello’ and that’s it because I know how the place run,” Watson’s father said.

“Dem kill me son fi nothing. You get yuh degree today and dead tomorrow,” Blair said, trying to come to terms with living without her baby.

The family is puzzled as to why anyone would want to harm her son, claiming that there is no war in the space and thinking back to New Year’s Eve, the last time they heard any explosions.

“Is like they don’t want him achieve nothing else,” a relative said.

Watson was not the person who started the live video.

Last month, security consultant and crime expert Robert Finzi-Smith expressed concern, in an interview with THE STAR that persons are not aware of the significant risks while going live on social media.

He said that going live, or livestreaming, can result in various issues including what he terms “self-hacking”, in which persons unknowingly expose themselves to risks by sharing too much information.

In the meantime, the Kingston Central Police Division has, for 2024, recorded 19 murders up to August 31.

This represents a 21 per cent decline year-on-year, with 24 people killed during the similar period last year.

The national murder toll now stands at 783.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com