Lathrop, CA – A California man has been sentenced to 40 years to life for the cold-blooded highway shooting of an Amazon truck driver, a crime that occurred on the victim’s wedding anniversary.
Murder Conviction and Maximum Sentence
On Tuesday, Andrew Christopher Watson, 31, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge John R. Soldati to a prison term of 40 years to life. Watson was convicted earlier in August on charges of second-degree murder and shooting at an occupied vehicle. Both convictions came with a sentencing enhancement for the use of a firearm, which contributed to the maximum punishment allowed under California law.
In a statement, District Attorney Ron Freitas expressed the gravity of the crime, emphasizing that it was a cold-blooded act that not only stole a life but also endangered the community.
“The maximum sentence reflects the severity of this crime and our commitment to justice for the victim and his family, who are left in unimaginable grief,” Freitas said.
The Fatal Shooting and Its Impact
The tragic incident took place on June 15, 2023, when Watson shot Ilkhom Shodiev, 37, an Amazon semi-truck driver from Charlotte, North Carolina. Shodiev, who was celebrating his eighth wedding anniversary on the same day, was fatally struck in the head after Watson opened fire while driving on State Route 120 in Lathrop…