Jimmy Ray Hawkins Jr., a 47-year-old resident of Bellflower, California, tragically lost his life on April 22, 2022, in a shooting incident in Long Beach. The incident occurred in the 3300 block of Andy Street, where Hawkins and a female companion were sitting in a parked car. Around 2:17 p.m., two men approached them in a light-colored sedan and opened fire. Hawkins was pronounced dead at the scene, while the woman sustained critical injuries and was hospitalized.
The motive for the shooting was suspected to be gang-related, although Hawkins' family insisted he was not involved in any gang activities.
The investigation into Hawkins' murder led to significant developments over the following months. Initially, no arrests were made as the suspects fled the scene. However, by July 2022, detectives had identified Santiago Rivera, a 19-year-old resident of Signal Hill, as a suspect. Rivera was already in custody for an unrelated murder that occurred on June 3, 2022. Evidence collected during the investigation linked Rivera to Hawkins' murder and the attempted murder of the female victim. Rivera was subsequently charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder, with his bail set at $6,000,000.
Further progress was made in December 2022 when detectives arrested a second suspect, Brandon Tyler Shackelford, a 30-year-old resident of Riverside. Shackelford was apprehended near the 500 block of Palmyrita Drive in Riverside. During the search, detectives found a firearm and other evidence connecting Shackelford to the crime. He was booked for murder and held on $2,000,000 bail. The case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office for filing consideration.
The investigation into Hawkins' death highlighted the ongoing issue of gang-related violence in Long Beach, despite Hawkins' family's assertions that he was not involved in such activities. Hawkins was remembered by his family as a humanitarian, artist, and singer who loved his family and three daughters. The tragic loss of Hawkins underscored the broader impact of violence on the community and the importance of continued efforts to address and prevent such incidents.
