William R. Watson was shot on the night of July 20, 2025, near 69th Street and Bellefontaine Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. The 17-year-old had been visiting his former hometown after his family moved to Texas; he was privately taken to a hospital just before midnight with a life-threatening gunshot wound and spent five days at Research Medical Center.

On the morning of July 25, 2025, William died and investigators reclassified the case as a homicide. Family members and the community described him as kind-hearted, funny, and hardworking; a vigil was held and a reward of up to $25,000 was offered for information leading to an arrest.

If anyone knew William, was in that neighborhood the night of July 20, 2025, or has information that could help, please come forward.