Bond set at $1 million for Toledo murder suspect

9/17/2012

BLADE STAFF

Suspected in the city's most recent homicide, Tyler Watson was arraigned today.

Watson, 23, of 1618 Avondale Ave., who is charged with one count of murder, was ordered to be held in the Lucas County jail in lieu of $1 million bond.

"A million dollars? For real?" Watson asked as bond was being discussed.

Police allege that Watson shot and killed Nicholas Linke, 20, in North Toledo on Sept. 8.

During the appearance in Toledo Municipal Court, Watson, several times, looked back at family sitting in the gallery. After bond was set, Watson shrugged off a deputy and a family member shouted, "I love you, Ty."

"I love you all, too," he responded. "Take care of my daughter."

"I got you, man," Watson's younger brother, Elijah Watson, 19, responded.

After being led around the corner, Watson could be heard, saying to a deputy, "Get off me, man."

After the court appearance, Watson's family met outside the downtown courthouse.

"Did you see how he looked at me? That's what hurt me, bro," said Mr. Watson to another family member. "He looked at me."

To reporters, Mr. Watson said, "My brother is a loving, caring man. If he did it, it's because that's what he had to do."

In court documents, police outlined what they believe happened at the time of the shooting based, at least in part, on information from a witness.

The witness reportedly told police, according to court documents, that the victim was sitting in his parked truck in front of a store in the 800 block of Buckeye Street when a man was seen getting into the truck. A few minutes later, the witness reportedly heard a gunshot and the same man got out of the car and ran.

The victim then drove north on North Ontario Street and hit several vehicles before stopping in a front yard in the 1900 block of North Ontario.

The victim was taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, where he died of a single gunshot wound to the torso, according to the Lucas County Coroner's Office.

It is unknown if Mr. Linke's family was in court today.

Watson's mother, Rosalind Banford, said her son will get out of jail.

One of Watson's two children, a daughter who turns 2 next week, was in court today with her mother, Krystal Gushard, 25, of Toledo.

Ms. Gushard said she is the mother of Watson's children and she is 3 months pregnant with their third.