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Young father murdered in front of 3-year-old son

Posted at 5:43 PM, Feb 23, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-23 17:44:11-05

When Joseph Watson showed up at his cousin's house in Taylor unannounced Saturday night, relatives thought it was odd, but still welcomed the 25-year-old who had just been dropped off by his father.

One of Watson's cousins tells 7 Action News that he sounded frustrated, but they didn't really figure out what was bothering him.

Then a friend of the family, Jose Zambrano, 23, arrived for a visit with his three-year-old son. And moments after Zambrano put his son down to greet his friends, Watson opened fire, according to his relatives.

They were able to rush the toddler to safety, but his father was shot dead.

Taylor Police say Watson also wounded one of his own cousins.

When officers arrived, Watson fled the scene on foot, but was arrested a short time later as he tried to break into someone's home.

Watson now faces multiple charges including first-degree murder.

He was arraigned Tuesday afternoon and is now being held without bond.