In the early morning hours of July 19, 2025, a dispute over a parking boot at an apartment complex in Decatur, Georgia, escalated into a fatal shooting. The victim was identified as 47-year-old Kirwin Hinds, a Black or African American male. The incident occurred around 7 a.m. in the 2300 block of Peachwood Circle, at the Haven on Peachwood apartments.
Witnesses reported that Hinds was in the process of placing a boot on a vehicle when an argument erupted.
The situation quickly turned violent, leading to Hinds being shot. He was found by officers with a gunshot wound and succumbed to his injuries. Residents of the apartment complex indicated that confrontations over vehicle booting were a recurring issue.
Following the shooting, two individuals were taken into custody. Otis Blakes, 33, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with Hinds's death. A second man, 28-year-old Christopher Blakes, was also arrested and charged with simple battery. Both men were booked into the DeKalb County jail. It remains unclear if the two suspects are related.
