Watts out of hospital


By Holly Wells
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Friday, October 29, 2004

Sheldon Watts, the UA redshirt football player shot in the arm and chest at a party earlier this month, was released from the hospital yesterday.

Watts, a pre-business freshman from Fresno, Texas, was first admitted into University Medical Center in critical condition on Oct. 10 after the shooting. He remained in critical condition until last week, when he was downgraded to fair condition.

Watts was shot at a house party near East Speedway Boulevard and South Wilmot Road. The shooting happened early in the morning after a confrontation broke out at the party, at which between 100 and 200 people attended, according to police.

Fabian Martin Flores was arrested Oct. 21 in connection with Watts' shooting.

Flores, 21, has been charged with aggravated assault causing a serious physical injury and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was booked into Pima County Jail Oct. 21 and his bond is set at $250,000.

Flores was arrested as a result of tips from the community, police said.

Sgt. Carlos Valdez, Tucson Police Department spokesman, said no new information has been released in the ongoing investigation.

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

Watts did not travel with the team that weekend because of his redshirt status. Three other redshirt football players were also at the party that night, but police have not released their names.