CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A Clarksville man agreed to a 20-year prison sentence for shooting and killing a man inside his Paradise Hill Road home.

Raushad D. Watson, 26, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Tuesday in Judge Jill Ayers’ court, admitting he intentionally shot  41-year-old Aaron P. Johnson multiple times on February 27, 2018, inside the home they shared.

When officers arrived, they found  Johnson critically injured. He was transported to Tennova Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The investigation revealed that Watson-the boyfriend of Johnson’s daughter- entered the home, pulled out a gun, and shot Johnson several times. Watson fled from the crime scene but turned himself in the next day. He was cleared of any allegations of kidnapping the victim’s daughter.

Sex offender info challenged

The motive of the shooting is believed to be linked to the victim’s criminal history, as a registered sex offender with a ‘violence against children’ status. Johnson had been convicted twice of sex crimes involving minors.

The state, represented by Assistant District Attorney Chris Dotson,  filed a motion to suppress information regarding Johnson’s sex offender history and during a jury trial scheduled for Jan. 2020.

The criminal history of the Johnson was paramount in Watson’s case.

Assistant Public Defender Charles Bloodworth, Watson’s attorney, said Watson was originally charged with first-degree murder and facing a 51-year prison sentence at 100 percent upon conviction. Much thought and many conversations between all parties involved went into the plea agreement negotiations.

“There was some indication that Mr. Watson believed he was protecting (someone) and trying to keep (them) safe,” Bloodworth said. “He borrowed a gun and shot Mr. Johnson six times and didn’t try to hide. There was evidence he’d threatened to kill him.  … We looked at settlement negotiations in great detail and a compromise was reached. Neither side was entirely happy, but it was fair.”

Watson will have to serve 17 years at 100 percent before he is eligible for release from the Tennessee Department of Corrections.

Dotson said there was no proof that Johnson was committing any sex crimes during the time of his demise.

“While the victim had a history and a public record as a sex offender, there was no proof of any recent activity,” Dotson said.

No Winners

Bloodworth and Dotson said in a homicide case there is no “good” outcome.

“There is no good solution when someone loses their life,” Dotson said. “It’s a delicate balance, but we weigh everything and come up with a solution to what can be fair under the circumstances.”

Bloodworth added that while fair, there were no winners.

“It was a personal tragedy all the way around and no one was a winner,” Bloodworth said. “Mr. Watson was punished for intentionally killing a person. Given the victim was a sex offender it doesn’t give anyone the right to shoot him multiple times and take his life. This was a compromise and Mr. Watson will still have some of his life ahead when he’s released in 17 years as a man in his 40s.”