UWI high achiever murdered before he could collect degree

One of Keauno Watson's dreams was to take his family, especially his mother, out of the inner city.

The 23-year-old was the youngest of three children for his mother Sanndra Blair, but was the first to attend university. On Sunday, when he received his status letter from The University of the West Indies (UWI) that he had met the requirements of fulfilling his degree and would be graduating in October, he sent a screenshot to Blair and reminded her of his promise. Unfortunately, the Allman Town, Kingston, resident will never fufil his promise as he was cut down in a hail of bullets outside his gate on Dames Road on Monday. Blair was consumed with grief when THE STAR visited her at home yesterday.

"Popsie (his nickname) wasn't just mi son, him a mi heart. Mi feel like mi ago dead. Mi can't explain it. It was all about mi and him. We shared a bond. Him never fraid to disclose nothing at all to mi. Right now mi bruk up in a million pieces," she said. According to a report from the Constabulary Communications Network, about 7:45 p.m., Watson and another man were standing along the roadway when they were pounced upon by gunmen who shot them several times. Police transported both men to the hospital where Watson was pronounced dead. The injured man remains hospitalised. The shooting incident was captured on a TikTok live video, in which gunmen were seen firing mercilessly at both men.

Blair said Watson studied international relations and psychology. She stated that she had to 'ban her belly' to ensure that he received his tertiary education after he graduated from St George's College in 2017 with a total of 16 CSEC and CAPE subjects.

"He told me not to borrow any student loan to send him to college because he wanted to take me out the ghetto. Him say if him fi pay back student loan it would take forever to achieve him dream. Mi beg and mi borrow and when him do work and travel, him save him money from work and travel and help pay. Sometimes a just $1,000 him get to go UWI and him would make a sandwich and carry," Blair said. In the status letter, The UWI congratulated Watson on "achieving this major milestone".

"I am pleased to inform you that your certificate will be ready for collection as of Septmber 2, 2024," the letter said. Having studied at the Mona campus, Watson was directed to collect his certificate at the examinations section, using valid, government issued identification.

Watson was described as a humble and well mannered individual. Blair said she told Watson to get some fresh air outside because he was stuffy and achy.

"When mi hear di shots mi never know say him out there yet. Mi granddaughter come and tell mi say 'Popsie get shot'. Mi go and peep over the wall and see him body and mi coudn't go out the gate ... because anyhow mi did go out there to fully look at him it would be two bodies because I woudn't come out there alive," she added.