In the late hours of a Monday evening in Louisville, Kentucky, the life of Ernie J. Hawkins, a 42-year-old White male, was cut short by a fatal gunshot wound. On March 13, 2017, at approximately 11:30 p.m., officers responded to a call at the Thorntons gas station on Cane Run Road, just south of the Watterson Expressway. Upon arrival, they discovered Hawkins in the parking lot, having sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Louisville Metro Police Department's homicide unit immediately began an investigation into the shooting. Detectives worked through the night and into the early morning, interviewing witnesses and examining the scene for evidence. They searched a car and a truck in the parking lot, one of which was believed to belong to Hawkins. Investigators also sought to obtain surveillance footage from the gas station to piece together the events that led to the deadly encounter.
Despite the initial homicide investigation, the case took a turn as detectives delved deeper into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. After a thorough investigation, the Louisville Metro Police Department concluded that the shooting was likely a justified act. As a result of this determination, the department announced that they did not anticipate filing any charges in connection with Hawkins' death.
The case was subsequently forwarded to the Commonwealth's Attorney for a final review. Ultimately, no arrests were made, and no suspects were publicly identified or sought in the death of Ernie Hawkins. The shooting had no connection to the Thorntons business itself. The loss was deeply felt by his family, who remembered him as a good man who was always willing to help others. He was a father, a son, and the youngest of ten children, leaving behind a grieving family to mourn his sudden and violent death.
