Man charged with shooting player


By Holly Wells
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Monday, October 25, 2004

A 21-year-old Tucson man was arrested in connection with the Oct. 10 shooting of UA football player Sheldon Watts.

Fabian Martin Flores, of the 1900 block of East Jason Vista, was arrested 8 p.m. Thursday and booked into Pima County Jail. He has been charged with aggravated assault causing a serious physical injury and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond has been set at $250,000.

According to police the arrest was a result of tips received from the community.

Sgt. Marco Barboa, Tucson Police Department spokesman, said police are not releasing any other information because the investigation is ongoing.

Watts, a pre-business freshman from Fresno, Texas, was shot during a party with between 100 and 200 people near East Broadway Boulevard and South Wilmot Road.

Watts was shot in the arm and chest and remains in fair condition at University Medical Center.

Police said Watts was an innocent bystander at the party and had not been involved in the confrontation that led to the shooting.

Watts, who did not travel with the team because of his redshirt status this season, was at the party with three other redshirt football players.

An 18-year-old high school student was also grazed during the shooting, but did not wish to press charges.