The neighbours said there was a major altercation at the house before the shooting.
"Apparently there was a bit of a mean rumble inside," one said.
A 29-year-old man was arrested for suppressing evidence and appeared in court this morning but the woman wanted for the alleged murder remained at large.
A group of three High St neighbours said Mr Watkins and his girlfriend had been hoping to move away and start a new life, before he was killed on Thursday.
"He was her life," they said.
The neighbours said the 29-year-old man and the 19-year-old woman were very well known to Mr Watkins and his girlfriend.
The Wellington District Criminal Investigation Branch had been working on the case and wanted more information from the public.
Detective Senior Sergeant Warwick McKee said people who saw a white Nissan Micra in the Taita area about 8pm on Thursday should contact police.
"This vehicle left the deceased's address at High Street Taita, with four occupants before returning to the address about 20 minutes later."
The 29 year-old arrested for being an accessory after the fact to murder will remain behind bars until at least his next hearing on March 3.
The accused man appeared in a blue boiler suit in the Hutt Valley District Court this morning and Justice of the Peace PJ Ryan granted him interim name suppression.
The accused man showed little emotion, said nothing, and entered no plea.
