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Name:
Watkins, Edwin Tyzez
Date of Booking:
04/14/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Battery
Possession Of Firearm / Knife During Commission Of A Crime
Aggravated Assault
Cruelty To Children
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On April 16, 2025 around 1503 hours, I responded to [2100 BLOCK] E Mcintosh Rd. in reference to someone shot in the head. When I arrived I saw a male come outside covered in blood with a phone up to his ear. I asked what happened and the male said “she shot herself”. The male then said “tried to get the gun and I guess she fell and shot her in the face right here”. I then asked where the gun was and the male said he put it in the back.
I could see the female sitting in the kitchen area floor with no shirt or bra on. The female was covered in blood and it was also on her face. I could see the female had a hard time talking saying she could not breathe. I then place gauze on the right and left side of her face. I could see a hole in her right side cheek area but I did not see anything on the left side of her face.
Sgt. Deason and Deputy Mason shortly later arrived on scene and cleared the house. I also asked the female if she did this to herself and while gargling it sounded like she said “uh huh” meaning yes.
I asked the female why she this to herself but I could not understand what she was saying. Once EMS arrived I removed the bandage on the left side of the females face and I could see the other entry or exit wound. EMS placed another bandage on the wound on the left side of the females face then took over applying pressure to the right side of her face. I asked the male what caliber the gun was and he said 9mm and then said it was a glock 43x. I then went outside and once the female left in the ambulance, I turned the scene over to uniform patrol, CID and I left the location.
[End of Narrative]
All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.
Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
2/12/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — CASE NO. 26R-61 FILED AGAINST EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS
What this means: On February 12, 2026, a Spalding County grand jury reviewed the evidence and formally charged Edwin Tyzez Watkins with multiple offenses. A grand jury is a group of citizens who decide whether there is enough evidence for a case to move forward in Superior Court. The charges in Case No. 26R-61 include Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault, Cruelty to Children, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (O.C.G.A. 16-11-106). The grand jury’s decision is called a “True Bill,” meaning they found sufficient evidence to proceed. Edwin Tyzez Watkins is accused of these offenses — no guilt has been determined at this stage.
3/16/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY FILES MULTIPLE PRE-TRIAL MOTIONS ON BEHALF OF EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS
What this means: On March 16, 2026, defense attorney Jorge Carabajal of Singleton Trial Lawyers Group, LLC electronically filed a package of pre-trial motions with the Spalding County Superior Court in Case No. 26R-61 and served copies on the Spalding County District Attorney’s Office. A Certificate of Service is a document confirming that all filings were properly delivered to the opposing party — in this case, the State.
The motions filed on behalf of Edwin Tyzez Watkins include:
Entry of Appearance — formally notifying the court that attorney Carabajal is representing Edwin Tyzez Watkins in this case.
Motion for Extension of Time to File Additional Motions and Demurrers — a request asking the court for more time to prepare and submit additional legal challenges to the charges.
Motion to Quash — a request asking the court to throw out or invalidate a legal document in the case, such as the indictment or a subpoena.
Motion to Suppress — a request asking the court to exclude certain evidence from trial, typically on the grounds that it was obtained unlawfully.
Special Brady Motion — a request requiring the prosecution to turn over any evidence that could be favorable to Edwin Tyzez Watkins, as required under the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Brady v. Maryland.
Demand for Discovery — a formal request requiring the State to share its evidence, witness lists, and other case materials with the defense.
Demand for Jury Trial — a formal request ensuring that Edwin Tyzez Watkins’s case will be decided by a jury rather than by a judge alone.
3/16/26
EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS ENTERS NOT GUILTY PLEA AND WAIVES FORMAL ARRAIGNMENT
What this means: On March 16, 2026, defense attorney Jorge Carabajal of Singleton Trial Lawyers Group, LLC filed a document in Spalding County Superior Court, Case No. 26R-61, formally entering a not guilty plea on behalf of Edwin Tyzez Watkins and waiving the requirement that Edwin Tyzez Watkins appear in person at the scheduled arraignment.
A formal arraignment is a court hearing where a defendant is read the charges against them and enters a plea. By filing this document, attorney Carabajal handled that process on paper, meaning Edwin Tyzez Watkins did not need to physically appear in court on the arraignment date. The document was e-filed on March 17, 2026, at 6:46 PM — the day before the arraignment — meeting the court’s deadline of 12:00 PM the day prior. Edwin Tyzez Watkins also signed the document, confirming agreement with the waiver.
3/26/26
ARRAIGNMENT SCHEDULED FOR EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS
What this means: An arraignment is a court hearing where a defendant is formally informed of the charges against them and enters a plea — typically guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Edwin Tyzez Watkins was scheduled to appear for arraignment on March 26, 2026, in Spalding County Superior Court in Case No. 26R-61.
4/14/26
EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS ARRESTED ON BENCH WARRANT — NO BOND SET
What this means: On April 14, 2026, Edwin Tyzez Watkins was arrested pursuant to a Special Presentment Bench Warrant issued by the Superior Court of Spalding County in connection with the grand jury indictment in Case No. 26R-61. A bench warrant is a court-issued order directing law enforcement to take a person into custody. The warrant specifically relates to Count 4 of the indictment — Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. A handwritten notation on the warrant, signed by Judge Grubbs and dated 4/14/26, indicates that no bond was set, meaning Edwin Tyzez Watkins was held in the Spalding County Jail without the option to post bail at that time. Edwin Tyzez Watkins had his First Appearance Hearing the same day at 8:00 AM.
4/15/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY FILES MOTION FOR BOND ON BEHALF OF EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS
What this means: On April 15, 2026, defense attorney Jorge Carabajal of Singleton Trial Lawyers Group, LLC filed a Motion for Bond in Spalding County Superior Court on behalf of Edwin Tyzez Watkins in Case No. 26R-61. A Motion for Bond is a formal request asking the court to set a bail amount so the defendant can be released from jail while the case is pending. In the motion, attorney Carabajal argues that Edwin Tyzez Watkins does not pose a flight risk or a danger to the community, and that denying him a bond violates his rights under both the U.S. Constitution and the Georgia Constitution.
4/15/26
NOTICE OF BOND MOTION HEARING SCHEDULED FOR EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS
What this means: Also on April 15, 2026, attorney Jorge Carabajal filed a Notice of Motion Hearing, formally notifying the court and the Spalding County District Attorney’s Office that the Motion for Bond would be heard on May 20, 2026, at 9:00 AM before the Honorable Scott Ballard in Spalding County Superior Court. The District Attorney’s Office was put on notice that it must appear and explain why the bond request should not be granted.
5/4/26
MOTIONS, CALENDAR CALL & PLEAS HEARING — EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS
What this means: Edwin Tyzez Watkins appeared on the court’s calendar on May 4, 2026, for a combined Motions, Calendar Call, and Pleas hearing in Spalding County Superior Court, Case No. 26R-61. A calendar call is a routine court session where the judge checks the status of pending cases, addresses any outstanding motions, and may take pleas if a defendant chooses to enter one.
5/20/26
CONSENT BOND ORDER GRANTED — EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS RELEASED FROM SPALDING COUNTY JAIL
What this means: On May 20, 2026, Chief Judge Scott L. Ballard of the Spalding County Superior Court signed a Consent Bond Order in Case No. 26R-61, allowing Edwin Tyzez Watkins to be released from the Spalding County Jail. The order was filed in open court the same day. The new charge of Possession of a Firearm/Knife During the Commission of a Crime — added by the grand jury — was incorporated into the $150,000 bond that Edwin Tyzez Watkins had already posted on May 7, 2025, in the same case. No additional bond amount was required. Both defense attorney Jorge Carabajal and an Assistant District Attorney from the Griffin Judicial Circuit consented to this arrangement.
8/13/26
MOTIONS, CALENDAR CALL & PLEAS HEARING SCHEDULED — EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS
What this means: Edwin Tyzez Watkins is scheduled to appear in Spalding County Superior Court on August 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM for a Motions, Calendar Call, and Pleas hearing in Case No. 26R-61. This type of hearing allows the court to address any pending motions, check the status of the case, and potentially take a plea if one is offered.
8/24/26
NOTICE OF TRIAL — EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS
What this means: Edwin Tyzez Watkins has been given notice that his case in Spalding County Superior Court, Case No. 26R-61, is scheduled for trial on August 24, 2026, at 9:00 AM. This is a formal notice that the case may proceed to trial on that date, though scheduling can change depending on court proceedings leading up to it.
8/31/26
NOTICE OF TRIAL — EDWIN TYZEZ WATKINS
What this means: A second Notice of Trial has been issued for Edwin Tyzez Watkins in Case No. 26R-61, scheduling a trial date of August 31, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Spalding County Superior Court. This may reflect a rescheduled or continued trial date from the August 24 notice.