The sad story of Tara Correa-McMullen is told in the gripping episode of Investigation Discovery‘s “Death by Fame” called “A Rising Star Shot Down.” This young actor, who was famous for her part on the TV show “Judging Amy,” was killed by gang members in 2005. The story shows the bad side of fame and the harsh facts of living on the streets at the same time.
Who is Damien Watts?
Damien Watts was a member of the Rollin’ 60s gang in Los Angeles. Watts, who was also known as “Chopper” in the gang, was charged with several killings, including the one that killed 16-year-old Tara Correa-McMullen.
Watts worked in the dangerous world of gang rivalries. He specifically went after members of the Bounty Hunters gang and the 8 Tray Gangster Crips gang in a series of violent events. Later, the jury found him guilty of the killings as well as several gang and gun charges, which sealed his fate in the eyes of the law.
Even though Watts’ crimes were very complicated, not much is known about his early life or what made him decide to become a criminal. But the people whose lives he changed through his cruel violence will never forget what he did.
What happened to Tara Correa-McMullen?
At the young age of 15, Tara Correa-McMullen rose from the rough streets of Los Angeles to be in the same spotlight as some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. But her journey, which started well, turned sad when she fell in love with the wrong person. The bad thing happened in front of an Inglewood apartment building on the evening of October 21, 2005.
A “walk-up gang-related shooting” was what the cops called it, and Tara was shot several times. She wasn’t supposed to be a victim of the rising gang violence while she stood outside the East Plymouth Street apartment complex. Two men at the scene were shot but survived.
The horrible thing Damien Watts did was caused by a series of fights between gangs. Watts, who is said to be part of the Rollin’ 60s gang, went on a two-day killing spree targeting people from rival gangs. Watts’ actions were fueled by violent grudges, and Tara was a sad victim because she was with a gang member and in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Where is Damien Watts, the killer, now?
Once the gang-related shooting that killed Tara Correa-McMullen was over, Damien Watts had to deal with the legal consequences of his acts. Watts was charged with one count of murder for killing Tara and two counts of attempted murder for hurting two other men. He was already in jail for another shooting-related case.
The court hearings showed how much Watts was involved in the violent acts. In January 2009, a jury found him guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Thomas Sanders and Tara Correa-McMullen. The charges also included shooting at a house with people inside, being a criminal with a gun, and several gang and gun-related claims.
Watts pleaded not guilty even though there was a lot of proof against him and the charges were very serious. But the jury’s decision was firm, and in February 2009, Watts was given two straight life sentences without the chance of parole. At the moment, he is still locked up at the California Calipatria State Prison.
Death by Fame: Who was Tara Correa-McMullen?
