Complaint: 37-year-old charged with shooting man at 4th of July gathering

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee man is charged with shooting and killing a 42-year-old in July.

Thirty-seven-year-old Eugene Watson is charged with the following: 

• Possess Firearm-Convicted of a Felony
• 1st Degree Reckless Homicide
• Use of a Dangerous Weapon

According to a criminal complaint, police officers were called to the area of 25th and Lloyd for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they were flagged down by multiple people, and officers went to the corner of 25th and Lloyd where they saw a man lying on the sidewalk, according to the complaint. 

The officers saw that the man sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Members of the Milwaukee Fire Department transported the victim. The man later died at the hospital, according to the complaint. 

The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the abdomen during an autopsy. 

On July 4, police were conducting an investigation at the scene when they found two casings in the roadway. The casings were determined to be 357 caliber cartridge casings, per complaint. 

Police interviewed a witness at the scene. The witness said he knew Watson and the victim. He was hosting a family gathering at his house, and said the victim and Watson were invited and both showed up at the party, per complaint.

According to the complaint, the witness said Watson had too much to drink and was starting to act belligerent. The witness and the victim both knew Watson was armed with a handgun because he had seen him with the gun, and he kept it in his waistband, per complaint. 

The witness said that he heard Watson, and the victim have an argument earlier in the day, and he was aware the victim left but then returned. He said the victim returned to the party around the same time Watson was asked to leave. Once the victim had returned, Watson began to focus on the victim and began speaking to him, "as if he wanted to fight him, "according to the complaint. Watson was asked to leave. 

Per complaint, the witness said his sister escorted Watson out. The victim went outside to "squash the problem" but once outside, the victim and Watson began to argue. The victim and Watson began to fight, and the victim was "getting the better" of Watson. He saw Watson take his gun out, point to the victim, and shoot, per complaint. The victim began to run. The witness says he heard three gunshots and saw the victim fall to the ground near the corner. 

The witness said he saw Watson try to apologize to the family before walking away from the area.