On March 8, 2026 Minneapolis Police were dispatched to the report of a person with a knife threatening children at an apartment building located at [ADDRESS REDACTED]. S., Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Upon arriving, officers were let into the building and could hear a man yelling upstairs. They approached the man and saw a knife at his feet. This man was detained and identified as AVERY JERMAINE WATSON [DOB REDACTED]. WATSON made numerous unprompted statements including that other people had been assaulting him.
After WATSON was detained officers spoke with several witnesses including an individual referred to herein as Victim 1. Victim 1 stated that she had been having drinks with her neighbor, WATSON, in her apartment earlier that day. WATSON had become intoxicated and left for his own apartment in the same building. Sometime after that she heard a commotion and looked into the hall where she saw WATSON with a knife. She reported hearing WATSON say, "F*** you. I'll kill them kids." Victim 1 reported that two of her children ages 12 and 9 were in the hall at the time.
They are referred to herein as Victim 2 and Victim 3 respectively. Also present were two other children who also resided in the apartment building, ages 10 and 5. They are referred to herein respectively as Victim 4 and Victim 5. Victim 1 feared for the safety of the children and had them enter her apartment. Responding officers also briefly spoke with Victim 2, Victim 3, Victim 4, and Victim 5. They confirmed much of what Victim 1 had indicated including that they had been playing in the hall when WATSON, holding a knife, said he would kill them.
Full formal interviews of the children was not completed, and as of charging they have been referred for forensic interviews. At the time of charging WATSON remains in custody.
