Man Accused of Murdering Mother & Her Boyfriend in West Tuscaloosa Tuesday

A man fatally shot his mother and her boyfriend at their home in west Tuscaloosa late Tuesday night, police allege.

Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the multi-agency Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said officers were called to the 3700 block of 25th Place in Tuscaloosa around 10:20 Tuesday on reports of a double homicide, as the Thread first reported.

A 25-year-old man, Keaundra Lee Hawkins, reportedly met Tuscaloosa Police officers outside and said his mother and her boyfriend had been shot and were inside the residence, and first responders originally believed he was the 911 caller.

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The VCU got to the scene and took over the investigation, and soon enough determined that the 911 calls came from one of the victims before they were killed.

Kennedy said evidence has been discovered that proves Keaundra Lee Hawkins was the shooter responsible for the double homicide and the 25-year-old has been charged with one count of Capital Murder and committed to jail with no bond.

It may not be the only charge filed against the suspect, but ensures he will be held with no bond.

The victims were identified as Antionette Hawkins, age 62, who was the suspect's mother, and her romantic partner 63-year-old McRan James Montgomery.

Kennedy said at this time the investigation is still active and ongoing and no other information will be released at this time - stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread for more updates as they are made available.

The homicides are the 20th and 21st the VCU has investigated in Tuscaloosa County so far in 2024 - already surpassing their case total from last year, when the VCU saw 19 homicide cases.

The VCU investigated 22 homicides in 2020, a 15-year high of 23 homicides in 2021 and 20 killings in 2022.

With five months left in 2024, this year is pacing to break the oldest county homicide record for which data is readily available - the Tuscaloosa News reported 27 homicides in the county in 2005.