By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune
Shooting spree suspect Andre Watkins' brother was the hit man in the high-profile slaying of an NFL star's pregnant girlfriend, Watkins' attorney confirmed.
Van Brett Watkins, 49, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder following the November 1999 shooting of Cherica Adams, girlfriend of former Carolina Panthers receiver Rae Carruth.
Adams' unborn child survived the shooting but has significant disabilities.
At a news conference Monday, Andre Watkins' attorney, Dominic Fariello, said his client's family does not wish to speak with the media. He said the family believes Andre Watkins has been failed by society.
Watkins, 53, is being held in Hillsborough County on multiple charges stemming from a Friday night shooting spree that left one teen dead and two people injured.
His younger brother's projected release date is in 2041, North Carolina prison records show.
Van Watkins and Michael Kennedy, who drove the car that carried Watkins, testified that Carruth arranged the ambush shooting of Adams, 24. Prosecutors said Carruth wanted to avoid paying child support.
Carruth maintained his innocence, claiming he was miles from the shooting and had nothing to do with its planning. His attorneys insisted Watkins shot Adams on his own because he was angry that Carruth had backed out of a drug deal and because Adams made an obscene gesture at him from her car.
Carruth was acquitted of first-degree murder but convicted of conspiracy and other charges.
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