LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Deon Watkins, 52, to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of Kandeon Niravanh and Genesis Garrett, as well as related charges.
On August 30, 2023, a Charles County jury convicted Watkins of the aforementioned charges.
Before 1:00 a.m. on January 21, 2021, officers responded to the 2400 block of Hanover Court in Waldorf for a report of a residence with an open door. Several neighbors also reported hearing gunshots around 12:30 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found the front door of a residence was open. They then discovered Kandeon Niravanh and Genesis Garrett deceased with apparent gunshot wounds to the upper body inside of the residence.
An investigation into the murders revealed that Watkins and Niravanh were involved in selling marijuana. Watkins was the supplier for the marijuana that Niravanh sold. Prior to the incident, an argument occurred between Watkins and Niravanh via text message about a debt that Niravanh owed Watkins, as well as Watkins’ belief that Niravanh was attempting to contact his drug supplier directly. The exchange included voice-to-text messages of Watkins threatening violence against Niravanh.
The investigation also revealed that Watkins operated a gray 2012 Honda Accord passenger car. Based on phone records, video surveillance and tag reader information, Watkins drove this vehicle to the residence of Niravanh, who also lived with Garrett, and committed the murders of both victims. Following the murders, a vehicle that matched the description of Watkins’ vehicle was observed on video surveillance leaving the scene.
At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie called the incident a “rage killing” and asked for the maximum sentence under law. He furthered, “the callous disregard for human life is appalling” and that Watkins’ actions were “heinous, angry, and vengeful.”
Before sentencing Watkins, the honorable Judge H. James West stated that the incident “was an execution with no purpose other than to say, ‘I was crossed on a business level or I was disrespected.’ This shouldn’t be tolerated in any community.”
Guilty
- Count 1 – First Degree Murder of Kandeon Niravanh
- Life in Prison without the Possibility of Parole
- Count 2 – Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence related to the First-Degree Murder of Kandeon Niravanh
- 20 Years in Prison, Concurrent with Count 1
- Count 3 – First Degree Murder of Genesis Garrett
- Life in Prison without the Possibility of Parole, Consecutive to Counts 1 and 2
- Count 4 – Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence related to the First-Degree Murder of Genesis Garrett
- 20 Years in Prison, Concurrent to Count 3
- Count 5 – Use of a Firearm During the Commission After Being Convicted of a Crime of Violence
- 15 Years in Prison, Concurrent with Count 3
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