Two weeks before his murder trial was set to begin, Ryan Watson Jr.'s attorney asked for a delay. Defense attorney Kevin Shirley said he recently received a significant amount of new evidence, making a trial at the end of the month impossible.
Watson Jr., 16, is charged with shooting and killing Daniel Rogriguez-Lopez, 17, at the DeSoto County Fair in Feb. 2023.
The teenager was not in the Arcadia courtroom today. Shirley said he's being held in Sarasota. Of the new evidence received, Shirley noted DNA, fingernail clippings and eyewitness accounts.
The judge noted this case is moving relatively quickly and granted the motion for the delay. Shirley and his client are expected to appear in court again on Oct. 7. The goal is to begin the trial on Oct. 21.
According to reports filed in Watson's case, several witnesses identified the then-15-year-old as the gunman who killed Rodriguez-Lopez. There are allegedly two videos in evidence, including one video of the shooting happening and one video where Watson Jr. is seen holding a semiautomatic handgun.
Count on NBC2 to continue following the case.