ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 The man accused of shooting and killing his two young daughters before killing himself was slated to be put on trial on a battery charge later this month, according to court documents obtained by News 6.<\/p>\n
The Orange County Sheriff\u2019s Office said Bryant Watts, 33, killed Tiana Watts, 2, and her sister, 11-month-old Jaliyah Watts, before turning the gun on himself. Jaliyah would have had her first birthday June 22.<\/p>\n
Court documents revealed that Watts, who was charged with misdemeanor battery, had a pre-trial conference last Thursday, a day before the shooting. <\/p>\n
The court minutes from that hearing indicated Watts did not attend the hearing. A trial date was set for June 23.<\/p>\n
The charge dates back to November 2025, when Watts was arrested for hitting his girlfriend.<\/p>\n
An affidavit for Watts\u2019 arrest stated that the pair got into a dispute over claims of cheating.<\/p>\n
\u201c(The victim) then got out of the vehicle with her five-month-old daughter,\u201d the affidavit stated. \u201cAnd (Watts) got out and took the baby and left.\u201d<\/p>\n
The affidavit from November also provided information about Watts\u2019 background.<\/p>\n
\u201cA check via Teletype revealed that Watts was a convicted felon, however he did not have any prior convictions for battery,\u201d the affidavit said. \u201cHe does have previous weapons charges and a history of violence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Orange County court records show that Watts was charged with two felony weapons charges in 2014. On one of the charges, prosecutors did not take action. On the other charge, Watts pleaded \u2018No Contest,\u2019 but adjudication was withheld.<\/p>\n
In 2017, prosecutors declined to pursue a case against Watts after he was again facing a weapons felony charge. <\/p>\n
News 6 also learned through court records that an apartment complex in Orange County had started eviction proceedings against Watts earlier this year for non-payment. The eviction proceedings did not go forward after Watts paid the balance owed to the complex.<\/p>\n
That apartment complex is the same one where deputies say Watts killed his children.<\/p>\n
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