Matthew Hawkins, 39, was shot while working on a home he was renovating in the Belmont community of Charlotte on July 10, 2012, and died of his wounds on July 12, 2012. He had handed a robber $20 during the encounter but was shot in the face; the attack was described as apparently random. Hawkins was a father and small business owner who owned multiple properties and for more than a decade ran a Subway restaurant, often rehabilitating homes as part of improving his neighborhood.

The shooting occurred in an area that was in transition from one of Charlotte’s most troubled neighborhoods to a more stable community, which neighbors said made the killing particularly shocking. Police investigated but, in reports shortly after the incident, few leads had emerged and no suspects had been arrested. If anyone knew Matthew, was working with him that day, or has information about the robbery-shooting, please come forward to help the family and investigators.