A family in Silver Point, Tennessee is grieving after a mother and her son were killed in a brutal shooting. Christina Hawkins and her son Isaiah Hawkins were struck by at least 16 bullets, according to court documents. They had just arrived at a home in Overton County to pick up a child when the shooting occurred.
Relatives say the pain is overwhelming. “I could have protected her,” said Justice Hawkins, a family member. He added that he is now forced to be strong for others, even though he is deeply wounded by the loss.
Law enforcement has identified Payton Nations as the suspect in the double homicide. Nations is alleged to be the boyfriend of Isaiah’s ex-wife. Investigators say he opened fire on Christina and Isaiah after they came to collect his child, in connection with a dispute involving a fight.
A witness reported that after walking away, the shooter returned and continued firing while standing over the victims. “There is no excuse for what he did, especially emptying 15 shots into both my mom and my brother,” one family member said. Nations was later captured in DeKalb County and is now facing two counts of first degree murder. His bond has been set at $40 million.