On October 9, 2016, Rakim Rashad Hawkins, Sr., 23, was among a group of men playing dice at the corner of Ninth Avenue and 44th Place North in the Kingston neighborhood of Birmingham when an unidentified assailant opened fire. Hawkins and two others were struck; all three were taken to UAB Hospital. The other two men were reported in stable condition, while Hawkins was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Witnesses said the shooter ran to a vehicle and fled the scene. Birmingham Police have not publicly identified any suspects, and the motive remains unknown. The family and community are left without answers about who attacked them and why.

If anyone was in that area that afternoon or has information about the vehicle the shooter used, please come forward to Birmingham Police.