In the summer of 2017, a story of alleged wrongdoing and violent retribution unfolded in Birmingham, Alabama, culminating in the death of 47-year-old Erskin Hawkins. On July 16th, Hawkins was found shot to death, a fatal event that police believed was connected to accusations of a serious crime he was purported to have committed against a teenager.
The circumstances leading to the fatal shooting began to surface as investigators delved into the incident.
It was reported that the shooting was prompted by allegations that Hawkins had sexually assaulted a teen. In the immediate aftermath of the discovery of Hawkins' body, law enforcement officials indicated that they were looking into the possibility that a family member of the alleged victim was responsible for the shooting. A police spokesperson stated that they were 'pretty confident' that a family member was involved in what they characterized as an act of taking justice into their own hands.
The investigation into Hawkins' death was centered on identifying and locating this family member. Police expressed their intent to hold the individual responsible accountable for the homicide. They stressed that even if the allegations against Hawkins were substantiated, it would not change the nature of the homicide investigation.
Despite the initial belief by law enforcement that a family member was the perpetrator, publicly available information and news reports in the years following the incident have not detailed any arrests, charges, trials, or convictions in the death of Erskin Hawkins. The case remains a stark reminder of a tragic situation where violence answered accusation, leaving a community to grapple with the unresolved consequences.
