California Man Sentenced to 40 Years to Life for Killing Amazon Driver in ‘Cold-Blooded’ Highway Shooting
LATHROP, CA — A 31-year-old California man has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison after fatally shooting an Amazon semi-truck driver during what prosecutors called a “cold-blooded” highway attack.
The Highway Shooting
On June 15, 2023, around 12:45 p.m., Andrew Christopher Watson was driving erratically on State Route 120 before merging onto Interstate 5 near Lathrop, about 10 miles south of Stockton.
Dashboard camera footage showed Watson swerving through lanes and cutting into the slow lane. He then pulled alongside an Amazon truck driven by 37-year-old Ilkhom Shodiev of Charlotte, North Carolina, drew a firearm, and fired multiple shots.
One bullet struck Shodiev in the head, causing him to lose control of the big rig. The truck veered off the road, hit two other vehicles, and crashed into the parking lot of a strip mall.
Shodiev was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries later that day. The date marked his eighth wedding anniversary.
Conviction and Sentencing
In August 2025, a San Joaquin County jury convicted Watson of:
- Second-degree murder
- Shooting at an occupied vehicle
Both convictions carried firearm sentencing enhancements.
On September 23, 2025, Superior Court Judge John R. Soldati imposed the maximum penalty of 40 years to life in state prison.
District Attorney Ron Freitas said:
“This was a cold-blooded act that stole a life and endangered our community. The maximum sentence reflects the severity of this crime and our commitment to justice for the victim and his family.”
Investigation
Watson fled after the shooting, but investigators used dashcam and surveillance footage, traffic cameras, witness statements, and a partial license plate to identify him.
He was arrested at his home in Manteca on June 24, 2023.
Prosecutors said cellphone and bank records placed him at the scene, and gunshot residue was found in his vehicle.
Family’s Grief
Shodiev’s friends and family described him as a devoted husband and father.
“[His wife is] just heartbroken, crying all the time. His kids are too small. They don’t comprehend what happened. But I’m sure once they grow up, once they learn about their father, they’ll be proud of him,” a family friend told KXTV Sacramento.
The family could not attend Watson’s trial but did appear for the sentencing, prosecutors confirmed.
The tragedy underscores the devastating impact of road rage and gun violence on families and communities.
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