COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to shooting and killing another man in north Columbus nearly three years ago.
The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office said 57-year-old Kevin Johnson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a three-year firearm specification for the shooting death of 32-year-old Jermar Watters on June 22, 2020.
On that day, Johnson was at the home of his long-term girlfriend in the 1000 block of East 17th Avenue. The prosecutor’s office said Johnson left the house after getting into an altercation with Watters, a close friend of his girlfriend.
Johnson returned to the home with a gun and shot Watters, who also had fired a weapon. Johnson then fled and disposed of his gun.
Watters was taken to Ohio State University Hospital in critical condition where he was pronounced dead less than three hours later.
Johnson was originally charged with murder. He was given 952 of jail credit since his arrest on July 28, 2020.
