Fred Douglas Hawkins III

A talented and driven musician known to his friends and family as "Freddie Bandz," Fred Douglas Hawkins III was a beloved father and a rising artist in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, hip-hop scene. The 26-year-old Black man was born in Winston-Salem to Tonya Gary Waldo and Fred Douglas Hawkins Jr. and attended Mt. Tabor High School, where his passion for writing and producing music began to flourish. He was a devoted father to his daughter, Kaylin, and a key member of the music group "Plug Brothers Ent.," focusing on making his mark in the music industry. His loved ones remember him as a funny and cherished person who was gone too soon.

The night of Saturday, May 18, 2019, turned tragic when gunfire erupted during a large cookout in the 4200 block of Cody Drive. Just before 11 p.m., a chaotic scene unfolded as an estimated 100 to 300 people scrambled for safety. In the hail of bullets, at least six people were struck. When police arrived, they found 23-year-old Jalen Chavon Cockerham deceased in the street. Fred Hawkins was among five other victims who were transported to a local hospital. After fighting for his life for nearly three days, he succumbed to his injuries on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Four other individuals were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Winston-Salem Police Department launched an intensive homicide investigation, with detectives working around the clock. Investigators determined that at least four different firearms were used, and they recovered more than 80 spent shell casings from the scene. Police Chief Catrina Thompson later stated that the shooting on Cody Drive was believed to be connected to two other recent violent shootings in the city. Despite the large number of potential witnesses, detectives faced challenges as very few people were willing to provide firsthand accounts of what they saw.

In the days and weeks that followed, authorities pleaded with the community for information. Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr., a Winston-Salem native, lamented the loss of young lives, stating, "We are burying young diamonds way too soon and only we can stop that." In an effort to encourage witnesses to come forward, a reward for information leading to an arrest was offered, which was eventually increased to $10,000 through a combined effort from CrimeStoppers and the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.

In November 2023, the Winston-Salem Police Department announced a significant development in the case. They identified Justin Leon Surles Lynch as a suspect in Fred Hawkins' murder. At the time of the announcement, Lynch was already incarcerated for another crime. Authorities stated they would serve him with an outstanding warrant for the murder charge upon the completion of his sentence in January 2024.

The case saw a resolution in March 2025, when Justin Leon Surles Lynch, a Virginia man, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for his role in the death of Fred Douglas Hawkins III. While one news report's headline referred to the charge as involuntary manslaughter, the body of the article specified it as voluntary manslaughter based on court records. The details of his sentence have not been made public. The investigation into the death of Jalen Cockerham and the full scope of the shooting on Cody Drive continues. Anyone with information is asked to call the Winston-Salem Police Department at 336-773-7700 or CrimeStoppers at 336-727-2800.