North Texas felon who skipped sentencing killed during police standoff

WEATHERFORD, TX -- An armed fugitive who skipped sentencing in a burglary and theft case and faced returning to prison for 45 years was fatally shot Tuesday by deputies during a standoff.

Winford Watkins, 44, of Garland, was shot after pointing a gun at deputies, Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said.

Watkins was located Monday night at a rural home. Watkins was hiding in the attic, came down a ladder and was confronted by deputies who entered the house.

"He came down without saying a word, just slithered out of that crawl space, and point his gun at us," Fowler told KXAS-TV. "He was trying to get a shot off. He didn't. We did."

Watkins, who previously served prison time for drug possession, burglary and credit card abuse, died at the scene of a gunshot wound to the chest. A handgun was recovered near the body in the standoff that ended around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Watkins recently failed to appear in court when he was sentenced to 45 years in prison on convictions for 2011 burglary of a habitation and felony theft in Collin County.

A deputy Monday afternoon pulled over Watkins during a traffic stop and noticed a gun in the vehicle, according to the sheriff. Watkins grabbed a wrench and beat on a window of the patrol vehicle before driving away.

Deputies converged on the home Monday night. Watkins knew the owner of the house but the owner was not at the residence, KTVT-TV reported.

Three deputies will be put on administrative leave following the shooting. Texas Rangers will help investigate.

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