Miami Man Who Shot and Killed Wife While Attending Daughter’s Swim Lesson Also Person of Interest in 2014 Disappearance of Florida Woman

A woman is dead after police say her husband shot and killed her in front of her own child.

Carl Watts Jr., 45, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of 30-year-old Shandell Harris.

Police say Watts Jr. showed up at a North Miami Beach Jewish community center Sunday and murdered Harris as she attended a swimming class for her daughter. 

According to police, Watts had stabbed Harris just the day before. Detectives say he allegedly offered Harris money to drop the charges on the stabbing, and when she refused, he shot her. He then allegedly stood over her in the pool area after she collapsed and continued firing rounds until he ran out of ammo, police said.

“He followed her, and chased her down and shot her, like an animal, like he was doing the hunting,” Harris’ cousin Aaron Batten said.

Police confirmed that Harris and Watts Jr were married but did not have children in common.

Watts, a convicted felon, has been arrested multiple times and convicted for numerous weapons violations dating back to 1995. He is also a person of interest in the 2014 disappearance of Trukita Scott, a young mother from Fort Lauderdale, officials said.

Scott, a 24-year-old mother of two, was last seen in Miami Gardens on June 25, 2014. Her car was later discovered. However, she was never found.