In Montgomery, Alabama, on the afternoon of Sunday, June 8, 2025, 36-year-old Arsenio Hawthorne was shot in the 1100 block of Brag Street. He was quickly transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries, but he ultimately succumbed to the gunshot wound and was pronounced dead. The Montgomery Police Department subsequently launched a homicide investigation into his death.
At the time of the initial reports, law enforcement had not identified a motive or any suspects in the shooting, and no arrests had been made.
The unexpected and violent death of Arsenio Hawthorne sent ripples of grief through his family and the wider community. Remembered as a beloved son, brother, and a devoted father to his three children, his loss was deeply felt. His family described him as a selfless and giving person, someone who would give the shirt off his back to help another. They spoke of his love for Montgomery and his desire to see the city improve. His death was particularly tragic for his mother, who had buried another child just six months prior.
In the wake of the tragedy, Hawthorne's family made a public plea for anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward and speak with the police. They expressed their profound disbelief and sorrow, stating they never imagined losing him to gun violence. Frustrated with the prevalence of violence in their community, they urged for an end to the bloodshed. Educators at an adult education program sponsored by Valiant Cross Academy and Trenum State College, which Hawthorne had recently started, also mourned his passing. The investigation into Arsenio Hawthorne's murder remains ongoing as his family continues to seek justice.
