On December 24, 2000, 29-year-old Irving Police Department officer Aubrey Wright Hawkins was shot and killed after responding to a robbery-in-progress at Oshman’s Sporting Goods. Officer Hawkins, who had served with the department for 15 months, interrupted seven suspects who were tying up store employees; the suspects opened fire and he was killed instantly.

The suspects were later identified as members of a group dubbed the Texas 7, who had escaped from a Texas prison about two weeks earlier after taking over a guard tower and stealing weapons. A massive manhunt followed; six of the escapees were captured and one died by suicide. The six surviving suspects were convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death.

Officer Hawkins was survived by his wife Lori and his young son Andrew. Aubrey Hawkins Lane in Irving was dedicated in his honor.