June 4, 2024
(McKinney, Texas) – District Attorney Greg Willis’s office secured a 60-year sentence for Tranisa Watts, 26, of Dallas, for shooting her child’s grandmother at a Richardson Starbucks.
Richardson Police Department was dispatched to the Starbucks on Renner Road on April 18, 2022 around 7pm for a shooting in progress. When officers arrived, witnesses pointed out the shooter as the woman, later identified as Tranisa Watts, running past several businesses with a small child in her arms. Watts was detained while additional officers located the victim, Kentoria Edwards, with a gunshot wound to her chest. While Watts initially denied shooting Edwards, an eyewitness who knew both the victim and Watts told police that Watts shot Edwards at the end of an unscheduled visitation that Watts demanded with her child. Edwards, the child’s paternal grandmother, had custody of the child since she was just 3 months old following a CPS investigation into Watts’ ability to care for the child.
For the next three years, Watts declined to follow any normal visitation schedule and would often show up unannounced and cause problems, including physical altercations with the family. When Watts showed up at Edwards’ home on this date, Edwards agreed to meet her in a public place with another family member. When the visit was coming to an end, Watts asked Edwards to stand the child up on the table so that she could say goodbye. But instead of embracing the child, Watts retrieved a gun from her purse, shot Edwards in the chest, and then attempted to flee with the child.
Richardson PD Detective Jules Farmer interviewed Watts following her arrest. While Watts initially claimed self-defense, she admitted to shooting Edwards. She said the entire family was always out to get her and would never let her hold her child. She stated that she had enough and wanted her child back.
Watts pleaded guilty to the offense of murder and accepted the prosecutors’ offer of 60 years in prison, which Judge Jennifer Edgeworth imposed.
“Ms. Edwards was a loving grandmother, mother, wife, and sister. She devoted her life to her family, especially her beloved granddaughter. Watts’ unthinkable act of shooting and murdering her – in front of Watts’ innocent three year old child – has shattered this family. We hope this sentence provides a measure of justice and allows the family the time and space they need to begin the healing process,” stated Willis after sentencing.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Calli Bailey, Lisa Braxton, and Ashley Briggs prosecuted the case, aided by District Attorney Investigator Sarah Putman and Victim Assistance Coordinator Melissa White.
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