COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — There is now a $25,000 reward for help cracking the triple homicide in Coweta County that has shattered a family there.
Three people in the same family were shot to death Friday in their Grantville gun shop — Tommy and Evelyn Hawk, both 75, and their 18 year old grandson, Luke Hawk.
The son and father of the victims, Richard Hawk, told 11Alive Monday that the family’s Christian faith and a community of fellow church members and friends are giving the family strength.
“They’re behind me, they’re behind us,” Hawk said. “And they’ve given me such an outpouring of love, it’s been great. And I can feel their support and I thank them for that. But God’s in control of the situation and He will get the glory out of it.”
Hawk discovered the bodies of his parents and son inside his parents’ business, Lock Stock and Barrel gun shop and shooting range.
They didn’t come home for supper Friday evening after work and Hawk, who is the Coweta County coroner, drove to the business to check on them.
Investigators soon confirmed that the person or persons who killed Tommy, Evelyn and Luke also stole some 40 guns from the shop, and then removed the security camera recorders.
The search for clues and evidence continued at the business non-stop into Monday night.
The family’s pastor, Ben Sprenger of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Newnan, said Monday that Tommy, Evelyn and Luke Hawk lived their deep Christian faith.
“Their life revolved around Jesus Christ,” Pastor Sprenger said. “That impacted the way they treated people, they loved people deeply.”
As he paused and fought back tears, Sprenger added “their grandson was like a little brother, and they were phenomenal people that were really passionate about just giving life their best...Even in the midst of the aching and the despair, we have a real hope...we really believe we’ll see them again.”
“We’re not guaranteed tomorrow,” Hawk said. “They’re all three in heaven, and that’s what’s helping me though this—God’s promises.”
Sprenger said Hawk told him that he is praying for the person or persons who killed his son and parents, and hopes and expects law enforcement will bring them to justice.
The Hawks’ funeral will take place Thursday at 2:00 p.m. The funeral was moved to another church in Newnan to accommodate as many people as possible who are expected to attend.
It will be held at:
Unity Baptist Church, 311 Smokey Road, Newnan, Georgia 30263.
How to help
The family is asking, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Coweta Community Foundation, Hawk Memorial. You can make a donation here on the foundation website. The Hawk family said donors are advised to check the box titled "donation in memory or honor," so the foundation can track who made a contribution.
In a statement, the Hawk family said other charitable donations can also be sent directly to two organizations:
- The Alexander "Luke" Hawk Memorial Scholarship at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) — Memorial contributions can be made online or by check payable to the ABAC Foundation. Contributors can mail it to: ABAC Foundation (13), 2802 Moore Highway, Tifton, GA 31793.
- Ronald McDonald House — Contributions can be made online, or by check payable to the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities at 795 Gatewood Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. People can also call 678-704-8082.
"Any gift made in honor of the Hawk family will be acknowledged," the family said in a statement.
People who want to help add to the reward offer can donate to the Coweta County Sheriff's Reward Fund by mailing a check sheriff’s office at 560 Greison Trail, Newnan, GA 30263, according to a statement from the family. Donors should note the check with "Hawk Family Reward."