WEST ENGLEWOOD — Mark Watts loved his daughter and it was during one of his visits with her that he was killed.
The 15 year old was visiting the seven-month-old baby Jan. 4 when he was shot and killed leaving the baby’s home in the 5700 block of South Laflin Street, authorities and his guardian said.
“It was mistaken identity,”said Watts’s legal guardian, Latrice Bamgbaiye. Police records and Bamgbaiye said no one has been charged with the death, which was ruled a homicide by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Watts had been living with Bamgbaiye in her south suburban Riverdale home but was visiting his family on the block that fateful night.
Bamgbaiye, who had been caring for Watts for about 4 years, considered the teenager her own son.
She said Watts loved his daughter and wanted to do well in school to ensure a good future for the tiny girl.
“He wanted to do something to take care of his baby,” Bamgbaiye said.
The Thornwood High School 10th grader also loved to play football and was considered a ladies man, Bamgbaiye said, adding that he was very protective of Bamgbaiye and her own children.
“It’s hard,” Bamgbaiye said. “He still had a whole future in front of him.”
