On July 5, 2024, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Harrisburg police officers patrolling the 1100 block of North 3rd Street responded to the sound of multiple gunshots. Upon arrival, they discovered 20-year-old Azar Hughes of Steelton suffering from gunshot wounds near the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center. Despite receiving immediate emergency medical aid, Hughes succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The Dauphin County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy on July 9, 2024, confirming that Hughes died from gunshot wounds, officially ruling his death a homicide. Tragically, Hughes was the third son his mother, Cheryl Hughes, lost to gun violence in Harrisburg. His brothers, Charles L. Tate III and Malik Mundy, were fatally shot in 2014 and 2015, respectively. In the wake of this third devastating loss, Cheryl Hughes expressed profound grief, stating, "They took my last heartbeat. I'm broken."
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with Hughes's death. The Harrisburg Bureau of Police continues to investigate the incident and has urged anyone with information to come forward by contacting them at 717-558-6900. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Cheryl Hughes initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses, sharing her anguish over losing all three of her sons to gun violence and her unfulfilled efforts to relocate her family to a safer environment.
