Manteca Man Convicted of Fatal Shooting of Amazon Truck Driver on I-5 in Lathrop

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announces the conviction of Andrew Watson for the brazen murder of an Amazon semi-truck driver on June 15, 2023. A jury found Watson guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement PC 12022.53(d) and shooting at an occupied vehicle (PC 246) with an additional firearm enhancement.

On June 15, 2023, at 12:45 p.m., Watson merged onto northbound Interstate 5 from State Route 120 and initiated a deadly encounter. Dash camera footage revealed him swerving erratically, cutting into the slow lane, and positioning his vehicle alongside the victim’s truck. In a shocking act of violence, Watson fired multiple shots, one fatally striking the driver in the head. The victim’s truck careened off the freeway, crashing into a nearby building, while Watson fled.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Detective Jason Lachaussee, investigated, piecing together evidence from surveillance videos, dash cameras, witness accounts, and a partial license plate. Bank and cell phone records confirmed Watson’s presence at the scene at 12:46 p.m., and gunshot residue in his vehicle sealed his guilt.

"This senseless act of violence stole the life of a hardworking husband and father who was simply doing his job, leaving his family in profound grief," said District Attorney Ron Freitas. "The CHP and our prosecution team worked tirelessly to deliver justice, ensuring the defendant faces the consequences of his savage actions."

District Attorney Freitas and the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, extends deep gratitude to Detective Jason Lachaussee and the CHP for their exceptional investigative work, as well as to DDA Kathy Murray, Samantha Hills, and Victim Advocate Laura Reeves for their dedication to securing justice for the victim and his family.

Andrew Watson returns to court on September 23, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 8A for sentencing.