Man killed near home

FATAL SHOOTING

A 27-year-old man died on the street just one door down from his home after being shot on the Near East Side on Sunday night.

Kevin Jay Watkins Jr. was pronounced dead at 8:21 p.m., about 10 minutes after Columbus police and fire were called to the corner of Lilley Avenue and East Mound Street.

One woman told dispatchers the shooting was a drive-by. Another caller watched three young men run into a house shortly after the shots were fired. Most of the residents who called did not want to share their name with dispatchers and were fearful about going outside to see what happened.

This is the second death on Lilley Avenue this year. On Feb. 22, Lonnie Lambert was shot and killed in the 900 block of Lilley Avenue.

Watkins’ death is the city’s 114th homicide.