46-year-old sentenced to 47 years for 2025 shooting that left man nearly blind
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — A judge on Wednesday sentenced a 46-year-old Indianapolis man to 47 years in prison for a 2025 shooting that left a man nearly blind, the Marion County prosecutor’s office said.
Christopher Jethroe was convicted of attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, and a habitual violent offender sentencing enhancement.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers responded to a home on North Olney Street around 2:45 a.m. Jan. 23, 2025, on reports of a person shot. At the scene, officers found Ronnie Watkins with multiple gunshot wounds. Medics took him to a local hospital.
While en route to the hospital, Watkins told officers Jethroe shot him and the incident occurred at Watkins’ home. Doctors later determined Jethroe shot Watkins once in the right wrist and three times in the face near his left eye.
Watkins told investigators he had been at his house with Jethroe and Jethroe’s girlfriend, whom Watkins did not know. According to Watkins, Jethroe and the woman were arguing before Jethroe left. Watkins then drove the woman home. When he returned, he heard Jethroe knocking on his door.
Watkins said when he let Jethroe inside, he noticed an object in the back of Jethroe’s jacket but did not realize it was a weapon. Jethroe reportedly expressed anger that Watkins had driven the woman home.
Watkins said he lay down, and Jethroe shot him in the wrist with a shotgun. The two began to struggle, and Jethroe shot Watkins a second time. Watkins told police he believed the second shot came from a different gun. He said Jethroe started to leave the house but noticed Watkins was still moving and shot him again.
During a search of the home, officers found two fired 9 mm shells and a 12-gauge shotgun shell. They also found two small pellets and an empty shell casing stuck to Watkins’ clothing.
Investigators searched Watkins’ phone and found Jethroe’s number. In late February 2025, officers received phone records from AT&T confirming the number was active in the area of the shooting at 2:08 a.m.
Investigators later learned Jethroe was on probation in Illinois, which was transferred to Indiana. Officers planned to arrest him during a parole hearing on April 17, 2025. Though Jethroe arrived late to the hearing, officers took him into custody upon arrival.
In an interview, Jethroe told officers he only knew Watkins had been shot because a cousin told him. He claimed he paid Watkins $20 to drive his girlfriend home and he was at a house near 10th Street and Emerson Avenue when the shooting occurred.
A judge on Monday sentenced Jethroe, whom investigators identified as the shooter. He will serve his term at the Indiana Department of Correction.
