In what was meant to be a celebration of a life lost, another life was tragically cut short. On March 18, 2023, Daniel Elijah Hawkins, a 29-year-old male from Philadelphia, was fatally shot at Whitemarsh Memorial Park in Ambler, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred during a gathering to commemorate the birthday of Tyrek Fairel, who was himself a victim of a fatal shooting in 2013.
More than 30 shots were fired during the altercation, which also left 33-year-old Arian Davis of Philadelphia seriously injured with gunshot wounds to his jaw, hand, and leg.
The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office and Horsham Police launched a joint investigation into the shooting. The investigation revealed a complex history between those involved. A decade prior, Hawkins had been the driver of the vehicle when Fairel was shot and killed. On the day of the cemetery shooting, a confrontation ensued. According to the investigation, Hawkins, who was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions, approached a vehicle occupied by Davis and another individual. Hawkins then opened fire into the vehicle with a Glock handgun that had been illegally modified with a 'switch' to make it fully automatic.
In response to being fired upon, Arian Davis, who was legally armed and had a valid permit to carry, returned fire, striking and killing Hawkins. After a thorough investigation, the Montgomery County District Attorney concluded that Davis acted in self-defense. The District Attorney's office announced that the shooting was justifiable, and therefore, no criminal charges were filed against Davis. The investigation also uncovered that the Jeep Grand Cherokee Hawkins drove to the cemetery had been reported stolen.
