In a quiet Tuscaloosa neighborhood, the life of 62-year-old Antionette Hawkins came to a tragic and unexpected end. On a Tuesday night in August, police were called to a residence on 25th Place following a report of a double homicide. Outside the home, they were met by Hawkins' 25-year-old son, Keaundra Lee Hawkins, who informed them that his mother and her boyfriend were inside and had been shot.
Upon entering the residence, authorities discovered the bodies of Antionette Hawkins and
her partner, 63-year-old McRan James Montgomery. Both had succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds. Initially, investigators were led to believe that Keaundra had been the one to alert them to the crime. However, the investigation soon took a turn when it was discovered that one of the victims had placed the 911 call before their death.
As the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit delved deeper into the events of that night, evidence began to surface that pointed toward a different narrative. The investigation ultimately identified Keaundra Lee Hawkins as the primary suspect in the shooting deaths of his mother and her boyfriend. He was subsequently arrested and charged with capital murder. The charge stemmed from the fact that two or more individuals were killed in a single act. Following his arrest, Keaundra Lee Hawkins was held without bond at the Tuscaloosa County Jail as the investigation continued. Authorities noted that Hawkins was already known to law enforcement, and that his mother had previously filed domestic violence complaints against him. The motive for the double homicide has not been publicly released.
