Newly-released surveillance video shows the moment a South Florida fitness influencer violently beat a New Jersey man inside a Miami gym.
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Wes Watson, 42, pleaded guilty last week to aggravated battery in the Dec. 29, 2024 incident as part of a plea deal.
The video, obtained by NBC6 on Wednesday, shows Watson and others in the gym on N. Miami Avenue when police said he was confronted by the victim, who was wearing a white tank top.
After the victim pushed Watson, the influencer responded by repeatedly hitting him with a weightlifting belt, police said.
The victim told police he had gone to the gym to confront Watson before he was hit with a weight belt and assaulted by multiple people, an arrest report said.
Watson and other men hit and kicked the victim several times as he was on the ground, and Watson continued to punch and kick the victim until an employee intervened, the report said.
A police body camera video shows the victim, with a severely swollen face and blood on his tank top, speaking with officers after the incident.
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“I came to the gym and he, like, they jumped me, two of the guys are hitting me with a weight and then he hit me with a belt, a weighted belt,” he says in the video.
The victim suffered a face fracture, a concussion and two black eyes.
As part of his plea deal, Watson will have to go to prison along with counseling, and must avoid drugs and alcohol.
In a statement, the victim’s attorney said he’s grateful Watson was held criminally responsible, and said they look forward to the civil case.
Court records show the victim is seeking more than $50,000 in damages from Watson and the gym.
Watson is also facing charges in Broward for allegedly severely beating a woman. That case remains open.
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