SARASOTA -- A 32-year-old man was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of his parents, both longtime educators, in the garage of their Sarasota home Sunday night.

Errol Watts had been living for three to five months with his parents, Earl and Mary Watts, both 64, while battling a drug addiction problem, neighbors told Sarasota County sheriff's deputies.

Police responded to the home around 7 p.m. after neighbors heard gunshots. Errol Watts tried to flee, crashing a sport utility vehicle into two sheriff's cruisers. He jumped out and ran, but was caught.

Earl Watts was a coach, teacher and principal in Sarasota County, retiring in 1991. Mary Watts was a retired assistant superintendent for county schools, and a Manatee Community College trustee since 1998, having been appointed by Gov. Lawton Chiles and reappointed by Gov. Jeb Bush.

Elsewhere . . .

CRIST CAMPAIGN CLEARED: The Florida Elections Commission found no cause to further investigate a complaint against Education Commissioner Charlie Crist. Tallahassee attorney Dan Hendrickson in January accused Crist of spending money on behalf of his campaign for attorney general before formally opening an account. He also said Crist failed to identify a reception as a political fundraiser. The commission decided Crist had no direct knowledge or control of the events and didn't violate state election laws.

FAMU PRESIDENT COLLAPSES: Newly named Florida A&M University president Fred Gainous was in good condition under observation at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare hospital Monday after collapsing at a dinner late Sunday. Gainous, 54, lost consciousness during the Rattler kickoff dinner but quickly came to. He joked about the episode before leaving, and his wife told the crowd he had the flu.

TEEN'S MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL: A Manatee Circuit Court jury retired for the night and is to resume deliberations today in the case of 18-year-old John Acosta, accused in the fatal afterschool beating of 16-year-old James Brier last October on a Bradenton parking lot.

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Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk