Shooting at North Marion Middle School

[Jennifer Hunt Murty]

The victim and suspect in the shooting in the parking lot of North Marion Middle School on Wednesday have been identified by law enforcement.

Joseph James Juarez Coles, 32, died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds after an argument with the suspect, Roderick Kelvin Watson, 34, according to Watson’s arrest affidavit.

The argument ensued while an awards ceremony was happening inside the school. Watson and Coles were related because Watson was engaged to the mother of Coles’ children. An argument between the adults broke out over who would be taking the children inside for the awards ceremony, according to the affidavit

At 6:03 p.m., Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene at North Marion Middle in reference to a shooting. When they arrived, they found Coles in the parking lot just west of the cafeteria, suffering from gunshot wounds. Coles was transported to HCA Ocala Hospital and later succumbed to his injuries, according to the affidavit.

The suspect, Watson, was waiting at the scene and told deputies that he left the gun in the car. Watson willingly was detained by law enforcement.

The school’s guidance counselor, Kimberly James, went outside to the parking lot after another staff member told her to call 911. It was there that she saw the victim, surrounded by Watson, several children and two adult women. Watson told James he shot the victim, told her where he put the gun, and agreed to sit on a nearby bench and waited calmly for law enforcement to arrive, according to the affidavit.

The woman involved, Watson’s fiancé and the mother of Coles’ children, told law enforcement that during the argument over the children, Coles grabbed her arm non-aggressively, so Watson shot him several times, then began beating the other man physically, according to the affidavit.

Watson was described to have shown “no remorse” and “appeared happy about what he did,” according to the affidavit.