Shooting self-defense, police say
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/052601/met_6277705.html
Saturday, May 26, 2001
LAW & DISORDER: Shooting self-defense, police say By Dana Treen and
Shawna Sundin
Times-Union staff writers
Lee Haydon Watkins was defending himself when he shot 20-year-old Justin
Chad Faulkner at the end of a bloody fight at Watkins’ Jacksonville home
last month, police said.
“The state says there is no criminal intent there,” Lt. Rick Graham
said. “The investigation has basically been completed.”
The State Attorney’s Office would not confirm the decision yesterday
afternoon.
Faulkner and Watkins, 31, met at a bus stop the morning of April 24 and
eventually went to the house in the 9400 block of Woodhaven Road to take
some photographs, according to police reports. The two men got into a
dispute, and Watkins and the housekeeper were stabbed. They were later
released from the hospital.
Faulkner was shot by Watkins during the altercation, fled and was later
found on the west bank of the St. Johns River in Clay County three days
later.
Faulkner’s grandmother, Elaine Faulkner, said yesterday she didn’t agree
with the decision made about her grandson’s death.
“He was just a young kid trying to get to school and this guy gave him a
ride,” said Faulkner, whose grandson lived with and took care of her.
She said her grandson was a good man who volunteered as a coach at a
YMCA and went to church.
Watkins’ mother said yesterday that the family didn’t want to comment.
He is a grandson of former Gov. and Jacksonville Mayor Haydon Burns.
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