Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the killing of Jaquoya Wix − who was stabbed to death in the alley behind Chipotle in downtown Detroit where she worked − may appear random, but that doesn't mean her office can't prove premeditated murder against the suspect in court.
And although the suspect and Wix didn't know each other, "He planned out his acts before he acted," Worthy said of Devon Jason Watson, 42, of Detroit, in a Wednesday, Sept. 23, news conference.
Wix was found stabbed several times and "bleeding profusely" on Sunday, Sept. 20, at about 2:30 p.m., Worthy said. At least one witness chased down Watson as others tended to Wix. Watson was apprehended by police shortly after the killing.
Watson's first-degree premeditated murder charge
comes after reports that he'd been mentally ill, having just been admitted to the hospital in July for "acute psychosis," and diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder − a doctor checked a box on a report indicating the man could “reasonably be expected within the near future to intentionally or unintentionally seriously physically injure self or others, and has engaged in an act or acts or made significant threats that are substantially supportive of this expectation.”
Worthy declined to comment on Watson's mental state at the time of the killing, but said: “Just because someone may have, may have, does not mean they are not acutely responsible for their actions.”
An attorney for Watson was not immediately listed in online court records.
Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wayne prosecutor IDs downtown stabbing suspect, charges him with murder
