A preliminary hearing was held in Christian District Court Friday morning for Christian McKeel, the man charged with complicity to murder in the shooting death of 19-year old Alijah Watts.
Hopkinsville Police Detective Robert Stucki testified to the alleged events that occurred March 2 at Casey’s General Store on Fort Campbell Boulevard. He says McKeel admitted to driving two juveniles—who have since been arrested and charged with murder—to Casey’s with the intent to commit a robbery on Watts.
Detectives believe Watts had attempted to drive himself to the hospital but crashed on the way. He reportedly named one of the juvenile teens as the shooter before his death and Detective Stucki says that was recorded on a body camera.
He says one of the juveniles has admitted to their role in the events.
Judge Foster Cotthoff determined there was probable cause to send the case to the grand jury for consideration of indictment. McKeel attempted to enter a motion for a right to a fair and speedy trial and to contradict Detective Stucki’s testimony, but the judge said he would get a trial to make his case and his attorney Jerad Jackson advised him to not say anything that could be used against him.