A Central Valley man was convicted on Wednesday for the murder of an Amazon semi-truck driver during a shooting on Interstate 5 two years ago. On June 15, 2023, around 12:45 p.m., Andrew Watson, of Manteca, merged onto northbound I-5 from Highway 120 and began swerving erratically before pulling up alongside the victim’s truck and firing multiple shots. The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s office said the deadly encounter was captured on dash camera footage.(Previous coverage in the video player above.)The shooting killed a truck driver, 37-year-old Ilkhom Shodiev. Following the shooting, Shodiev’s truck left the interstate and crashed into two parked vehicles and a business. No one else was injured. Beyond the dash camera footage, the district attorney’s office said surveillance video, witness accounts, bank and cell phone records, and gunshot residue tied the crime to Watson. On Wednesday, a jury found Watson guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement and shooting at an occupied vehicle with a firearm enhancement. “This senseless act of violence stole the life of a hardworking husband and father who was simply doing his job, leaving his family in profound grief,” said District Attorney Ron Freitas in a news release. Freitas also said the conviction ensures Watson “faces the consequences of his savage actions.”Shodiev lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and two young children, who were ages 1 and 3 when he was killed. VIDEO BELOW: Loved ones grieve Amazon big rig driver shot, killed in LathropOfficials have not revealed a motive in the shooting. Watson is set to be sentenced on Sept. 23.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
A Central Valley man was convicted on Wednesday for the murder of an Amazon semi-truck driver during a shooting on Interstate 5 two years ago.
On June 15, 2023, around 12:45 p.m., Andrew Watson, of Manteca, merged onto northbound I-5 from Highway 120 and began swerving erratically before pulling up alongside the victim’s truck and firing multiple shots. The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s office said the deadly encounter was captured on dash camera footage.
(Previous coverage in the video player above.)
The shooting killed a truck driver, 37-year-old Ilkhom Shodiev. Following the shooting, Shodiev’s truck left the interstate and crashed into two parked vehicles and a business. No one else was injured.
Beyond the dash camera footage, the district attorney’s office said surveillance video, witness accounts, bank and cell phone records, and gunshot residue tied the crime to Watson.
On Wednesday, a jury found Watson guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement and shooting at an occupied vehicle with a firearm enhancement.
“This senseless act of violence stole the life of a hardworking husband and father who was simply doing his job, leaving his family in profound grief,” said District Attorney Ron Freitas in a news release.
Freitas also said the conviction ensures Watson “faces the consequences of his savage actions.”
Shodiev lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and two young children, who were ages 1 and 3 when he was killed.
VIDEO BELOW: Loved ones grieve Amazon big rig driver shot, killed in Lathrop
Officials have not revealed a motive in the shooting.
Watson is set to be sentenced on Sept. 23.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
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