In the early hours of a summer morning in Philadelphia, the Cedarbrook neighborhood was rattled by a wave of violence that claimed the life of 21-year-old Shahid Hawkins. On August 13, 2012, Hawkins, a Black male, was on the 1200 block of East Upsal Street when he was fatally shot in the face. The incident was part of an alarming spike in gun violence that summer, with Hawkins tragically becoming the third person killed in the northwest section of the city within a mere seven hours.
Shahid Hawkins, who resided on the 1100 block of East Mount Airy Avenue, was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting, which occurred at approximately 2 a.m. The sudden and violent nature of his death left the community reeling and investigators searching for answers. In the immediate aftermath, police began looking for a gold-colored sedan that was seen driving south on Rugby Street, away from the scene of the crime, shortly after the gunshots rang out.
Despite the passage of time, the case of Shahid Hawkins' murder remains unsolved. To date, no arrests have been made, and authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or a possible motive for the shooting. The investigation into his death is still considered active, a cold case that serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence on the city of Philadelphia and the enduring pain for a family still awaiting justice.
