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Father Gunned Down In Dispute At Dade Gas Station

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A dispute turned deadly at a northwest Miami-Dade gas station early Monday morning.

Family members told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that the victim was 53-year-old Howard J. Watson, a father of two children.

Watson's mother said she was particularly devastated since she had just lost her husband three years ago and was preparing to go home to Georgia to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family. Now, she said, she is not going anywhere as she is preparing to bury her son.

At least a dozen police officers could be seen surrounding the gas station after Watson was shot in the head during a dispute with two other people.

"They need to stop the violence. They need to stop killing one another," a bystander told CBS4's Marybel Rodriguez.

It all happened at around 3:30 a.m at an Exxon gas station on NW 79th Street and 12th Avenue.

The clerk says the man was in the passenger seat of a gray car with a woman who was in the driver's seat when the dispute started with two others.

Family members told D'Oench that the gray car belonged to Watson's girlfriend.

Police say the shooter took off in a dark-colored vehicle in an unknown direction.

Rescue crews rushed the victim to the Ryder Trauma Center where he died from his injuries.

A man told Rodriguez he was at the gas station moments before the shots rang out.

"I just left the gas station, heard the shots. It's not even safe to go to the gas station anymore. It's crazy," said the man who did not want to be identified.

Another neighbor said "Innocent people are getting killed for nothing. You all need to stop the violence. They need to stop it. It's sad."

Police are reviewing surveillance tape from the gas station but so far have not released a description of the suspects or their vehicle.

Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $3,000.

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