In the spring of 2017, a senseless act of violence cut short the life of Christine L. Hawthorne, a 32-year-old female from Louisville, Kentucky. On the evening of Friday, April 14th, Hawthorne was in the Algonquin neighborhood of Louisville. She had recently connected with a man named De'marcus P. Relliford, and the two had spent some time together that day.
Their brief acquaintance took a tragic turn in the 1100 block of South 28th Street.
For reasons that remain unclear, Relliford allegedly produced a handgun and shot Hawthorne in what authorities would later describe as an 'impulse' shooting. The sudden violence of the act left Hawthorne with fatal injuries. Following the shooting, Relliford fled the scene, leaving Hawthorne to be discovered by emergency responders. Despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Louisville Metro Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the homicide. Within a few days, their efforts led them to 22-year-old De'marcus Relliford. He was located and arrested on April 17, 2017, just three days after the shooting. During questioning, Relliford reportedly admitted to his involvement in the incident, telling investigators that he had shot Hawthorne.
Relliford was subsequently charged with murder in connection with the death of Christine Hawthorne. He was also charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, indicating a prior criminal history. Following his arrest, he was booked into Louisville Metro Corrections as the legal process against him began, leaving a community to mourn the sudden and tragic loss of a young woman's life.
