Ryan Hawkins: Deaf Indiana man chased and shot dead in highway 'honking' incident, 2 arrested
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA: Ryan Hawkins, a 35-year-old deaf man from Indiana, was shot dead following a "honking incident" on May 1.
His family and friends are left devastated by the sudden loss, remembering him as a “beautiful soul” who connected with everyone he met.
The police have charged two persons with his murder.
Family says Ryan Hawkins was trying to get away from the alleged murderers
The incident, which the family claims started with a “honking incident,” led to a chase on I-65, ending with Hawkins being shot and his car veering off the road and into a pond.
He also got ejected from the car and died from a gunshot wound to the neck per WRTV. According to his family, Hawkins tried to speed away from the area after the initial incident.
“Ryan was trying to speed off, like he was trying to get away,” his best friend, Ben Levine, told WishTV.
In a statement, state police divers and divers from the Indiana Fire Department were near the scene. They responded immediately locating the vehicle under the water.
They saw no one no one else was inside but bullet holes were found in the side of the car. They later learned there had been a shooting incident before his Hyundai Elantra car veered off.
Police arrested two people and charged them with murder in Ryan Hawkins's death
Indiana State Police announced two arrests connected to the shooting on May 2. Andre Briski, a 24-year-old from Indianapolis, was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Shawna Rowland, of Greenwood, was arrested and charged with assisting a criminal and obstruction of justice.
According to court documents, Briski allegedly told police Hawkins was “brake-checking” him, leading to the fatal confrontation.
He reportedly confessed, saying to police, “I’ll tell you right here, I did it. I didn’t mean to, I was afraid that we were going to crash and die," according to WRTV.
Ryan Hawkins's family remembers him as a 'beautiful soul'
Hawkins' brother, Drew, remembered him fondly, saying, “When deaf people meet deaf people, you click instantaneously, because you have similar lives, but Ryan just connected with everyone, he was a beautiful soul.”
His sister, Paige, echoed the sentiment, calling her brother a light in her life.
Hawkins attended the Indiana School for the Deaf and later Gallaudet University, the only liberal arts university for deaf and hard of hearing students internationally.
The university expressed their sorrow at his death, saying “Gallaudet University is saddened by the untimely passing of Ryan Hawkins, a 2013 graduate.”
“Mr Hawkins was an active and involved student and a loyal alumnus. His sister is an alumna, and his brother is a current student. We mourn with his family, and wish them peace and comfort,” the school added in their statement.
