In the quiet city of Dothan, Alabama, the life of 39-year-old William Phatzo Craig Hawkins was brought to a tragic and violent end on the evening of May 16, 2016. A group of teenagers, their motives rooted in robbery, descended upon his home, forever altering the lives of all involved. The plan, devised by five individuals, was to rob Hawkins, a man known for his creativity and kindness.
The group that set out that night included Va'Kevis Raiel Collins, then 19, Ricky Smith, Devonte
Thornton, 16, Brandon Bigham, 16, and an unnamed juvenile. Their plan took a fatal turn when Thornton and Bigham entered Hawkins' residence and shot him, while Collins, Smith, and the juvenile waited nearby. The act of violence claimed Hawkins's life and set in motion a lengthy legal process for the five young men.
In the aftermath of the murder, the wheels of justice began to turn, leading to the arrests of all involved. In March 2018, Va'Kevis Raiel Collins was the first to be tried and was convicted of felony murder. He received a sentence of life in prison. His conviction was later upheld by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in November 2018, solidifying his fate.
The two teenagers who were identified as the shooters, Devonte Thornton and Brandon Bigham, were transferred from juvenile court to be tried as adults for capital murder in September 2017. Along with Ricky Smith, they awaited their day in court. The case against the juvenile was adjudicated within the juvenile court system, with those details remaining confidential. Information regarding the final outcomes of the trials for Ricky Smith, Devonte Thornton, and Brandon Bigham for their roles in the death of William Hawkins is not readily available in public records.
