Hyde Park became a crime scene last Thursday after Christopher Hawkins, 33, was accused of a violent shooting incident that left another man wounded. According to Action News 5, police were called to the scene at Hunter Avenue at around 2:20 a.m., where they found a victim with a head injury. The witness, who was reportedly selling drinks outside his home, identified Hawkins, alongside a man named Mingo, as participating in the altercation.
Affidavits cite that Hawkins dismounted his bicycle, brandished a knife and a handgun, and proceeded to fire the weapon six times, striking the victim on the left side of his head. He then fled the scene. Action News 5's report revealed, that the witness directed police to Hawkins' location. When they arrived at a house on Eldridge Avenue, where Hawkins' aunt resides. The aunt had earlier called 911 reporting that her nephew had been shot in the right foot. Police found Hawkins there, suffering from a non-critical gunshot wound.
Hawkins is being held on a $225,000 bond and faced a court hearing today. WREG News Channel 3 details, adding that Hawkins was charged with second-degree attempted murder, employing a firearm with intent to commit a felony, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. His apprehension followed the unexpected turn of events leading to his hospital treatment for the foot injury.
The narrative Hawkins provided the police, outlined that he was in the vicinity of Springdale Street and Eldridge Avenue when he heard shots fired. In his version of the story, "he saw the suspect run away with a man who went by the name of 'Mingo'," according to the affidavit. Notably, both sources clarify that after being taken to Methodist Central for his foot injury, authorities identified "Chris", the name given by the witness as Christopher Hawkins, by running the alias through the NCIC database.
