Deaf man killed in road ‘honking incident’, family says, as two people face murder charges

Ryan Hawkins died after he was allegedly shot on the highway and thrown from his car, which landed in a pond, police said

A deaf Indiana man was killed in a violent road rage incident, his family claims. According to police, two people are now charged with murder.

On May 2, Indiana State Police arrested 24-year-old Andre Briski of Indianapolis and 23-year-old Shawna Rowland of Greenwood in connection with the May 1 shooting death of 35-year-old Ryan Hawkins, state police said in a statement.

On the afternoon of May 1, state police dispatchers received numerous 911 calls about a possible shooting and a car that went off the road and into a pond on northbound I-65, state police said in the statement.

According to state police, first responders rushed to the scene and found an adult male lying unconscious and unresponsive in the grass. The man was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators determined his Hyundai Elantra had entered a nearby pond and sank near where the dead man was found.

“Three Indiana State Police divers happened to be within a few miles of the crash and responded immediately,” the state police statement said.

State Police and Indiana Fire Department divers were in the water “within minutes.” They dived below the surface, located the vehicle and discovered that no one else was inside.

Investigators at the scene learned that shots were allegedly fired from inside a vehicle at the car in the pond shortly before the crash, the state police statement said.

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The victim suffered injuries consistent with a gunshot wound, as well as injuries sustained when he was ejected from the vehicle before falling into the water, the statement said.

Investigators at the scene apparently found bullet holes in the side of the submerged vehicle.

The Hawkins family told local station WISH-TV that they believe he was killed after a “honking incident.”

They said they believe Hawkins tried to run away from the other vehicle, a Ford Explorer, at a high rate of speed, WISH reports.

His car had veered off I-65 when he was shot, they told WISH. He was thrown from the car before it landed in the pond.

Other motorists said as Hawkins sped away, the Ford Explorer pulled up to the driver’s side window and someone inside began shooting at him, according to court documents obtained by local station WRTV.

Later that night, state police investigators found the other vehicle allegedly involved in the crash.

The vehicle officers found led them to the two suspects they believe are responsible for the shooting, state police said.

Briski was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, the state police statement said.

Rowland was arrested and charged with aiding and abetting a felon and obstruction of justice, state police said.

According to court documents, Briski allegedly told police that Hawkins “brake-checked” him – or abruptly pulled in front of him and then slammed on the brakes.

“I’m telling you right here, I did it,” Briski allegedly said, according to court documents, WRTV reports. “I didn’t plan on doing that, I was afraid we would crash and die.”

It is unclear whether Briski and Rowland have retained attorneys who can speak on their behalf.

His family is devastated by his death.

“When deaf people meet deaf people, you immediately click because you live similar lives,” his brother Drew Hawkins told WISH. “But Ryan just connected with everyone, he was a beautiful soul.”

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