The son was later charged with murder. He was sentenced to 28 years in prison, but escaped during a 1985 court appearance on other charges. After his recapture, he was also convicted of the 1984 murders of two purported drug dealers and sentenced to life in prison. Not long after his son's escape, the elder Hawkins told an interviewer: 'You just always have a bad apple, you know, in the bunch. I did all I know to do, I did everything there was to raise 'em. I have 14 of them and never been on county (welfare). He's the one who's given us all the trouble.'
We need to be men anyway, despite not having a father around, growing up father less is no longer a excuse to act wild,and not own the things you do, facts.
I lived it. I lived there. I seen those guys daily but they never really messed with me just warned me. That guy testify did not live in the NGs he was cool with them all.
In 1920 there were 1 million farmers of African descent today we have less than 45 thousand farmers of African descent. We have literally lost the ability to feed ourselves. That didn’t happen by accident.
Those fatherless p.o.s. were just jealous of this family and this strong patriarch, Mr. Hawkins. He raised great kids and very brave sons. This is what they are trying to destroy today,...the strength and order of patriarchal-rule.
@@cricket1269 the more people that become aware of the original set ups and the fall out from it, the faster they can make the mental and than physical shift needed.
The man with the father is the Worst Criminal of all a grown man with the best of everything turned to crime and shot a child. You sound like a p.o.s. yourself
@@jordanm1651 let’s start with a father at the head of family. Now days thousands of white people & a few minorities have entire careers based on the breakup of the family structure. Clearly these types of government policies disproportionately effect black families. There’s a concerted effort by all media platforms to suppress this type of information.
@@TurboRonin83 we can’t just blame Kanye look at all the wealth he have as a whole with “rappers” , entertainers and athletes and we still can’t get in the same page financially
@@TurboRonin83 Nobody owes us their money or what they worked hard to get. That's a bad mentality that only the black community has and it needs to stop. Our communities would change almost over night if we changed the way we think. It's really simple. Leave other people alone. Wait your turn. Do everything you can For Yourself. Respect those who succeed before you. And keep on pushing.
Go down South and you can STILL find African American families just like this one. Still have the true essence of our people. We’ve lost this in California unfortunately
I swear I give the Hawkins family respect, the son did that young blood griney the way he killed him, and they manage to survive the attacks of a gang that deep and dangerous, I drove to Hawkins burgers today to eat but it was to many people in line.. and was amazed how the structure is still there today, I also looked in the area where they had the fort and bunker lol it’s all still there! Crazy
@@jesusleon3774 the son was a more serious gangster than most of those guys that was trying to get him. he killed several people and was a member of the bgf the report is very biased
2021 Hawkins burgers are still available just had one over the weekend. What's crazy I remember when all this was going down but never knew they made a documentary / mini movie about it very interesting. And after watching this I'm going back next weekend much respect💪
Wow i never knew about all this. I just went to Hawkins burgers the other day 2/20/23 on my B-day. One of the Best Burgers ive ever eaten. Not really knowing where I was you could easily tell it was a blood area from the surrounding peoples attire.. it was a Bitter sweet moment.. The Bitter was the 30 min wait in the heart of one of the most dangerous gang neighborhoods in the world. the sweet was that bombazz tripple Burger I had.. i would go back one day but with extreme caution.
I’m here from Kraig facts do your homework it hit different Watching old videos or old documentaries about the past is like stepping into a Time Machine but it’s youTube.
@@macgyder it means he is the same as the gang! He knew he could get away with murder. The way they huddled up talking about how they was shooting and stuff shows who they really are.
@@robbankzzz9084bet you didn’t know James Hawkins got found guilty for the manslaughter of that boy & did actually lie about the boy having the shotgun lol then caught another case for killing two dudes execution style. Media can paint anybody to be the hero, you’re just silly enough not to do any further research lol
What business does this woman have- having SEVEN children when she can’t afford to take care of ONE. Pls tell me. No father. No job. Nothing. I don’t get it.
@@algernonfranklin3193 naaaah. Unfortunately it is my fuckin business wise ass. Because when these people have seven kids when they can’t take care of one, the tax paying public has to pay for these kids- their welfare, housing, food stamps, schools ( that they don’t attend) then their inevitable arrests, court cases, incarcerations, then the unwanted kids they eventually have and it starts all over again. When these people pay their own freight, and if they are isolated in areas where their mayhem doesn’t affect decent people, then it’s not my business. But when I’m paying, unfortunately it is. Go ahead defend these creeps.
I remember this back n the day my mom was real good friends with the mother of the victim who was gunned down...I remember attending the funeral ...so sad may he continue to rest
I wish this family would open a store in my neighborhood. We would welcome this beautiful family and they would prosper here. Damn, I wonder what happened to them.
⚔ I'm from Georgia but was raised in the suburbs of Chicago. The neighborhood that I grew up in had strong families. Most of whom who had migrated from the south. Southern people are very family oriented. You mess with one. You're challenging the family. It's going down. This was not about class. It was about VALUES! Respect to the Hawkins family.
The parents are to blame. Instead of speaking out against gang violence, they talk about their poor babies. This will never end with families like this.
And they wonder why a kid who's bad at school ends up in prison when all their parent did was go up there and defend his bad ass kid against teachers trying to discipline him
James Hawkins Jr was found guilty and sentenced to 28yrs for killing dude. He escaped and was charged with the deaths of two drug dealers and sentenced to double life. He also was charged with having a shootout with police.
I brain farted. I thought they were referring to the sun of the store owner. Not one of the scumbag gangsters. Who I of course deserve justice. Citizens cannot power and fear to these parasites.
All I get from this is a sense of emboldening to not just take crap from people. No one’s feeling sorry for these gang members terrorizing their community..
You idolize the gang members. They steal from you and terrorize you and you put them as your gods....then blame everyone and everything except yourselves
Its crazy how much back in the old days they looked so much more gangster and scary then now the gangsters wear tight clothes and have girl lookin hair lol
That ''ex gang member'' is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorcycle. Notice when he says ''you cant kill a gang member unless you have a goo...... (trails off as he realises)
Damn even on the google maps picture damus stay posted in front of the burger joint. This business is lucky to have survived this and still standing today with the jects facing their building and compton nearby.
@@runitback5066 the Hawkins son was a gunner tho, he ended up gettin charged for killin that kid, and he got charged for 2 more bodies, left a nigga hog tied with billets in him.. I think after the son went to jail the bounty hunters lowkey was like fuck it, cause they had homies stretched out in jail over messing wit them and they had internal snitch issues at the time so I’m sure after the killer got his justice they said fuck it.. search Hawkins jr dude was crazy AF man
Peace Brother. I’m from Chicago. I found this story fascinating. Please give me instructions on how I can take a look at this store and surrounding area on google maps. Thank you.
At 42:00 the Mom said she had to run outside and stop the gang from making the son suck they privates because he told the police some names . If that’s not the fruitiest shit I ever heard in my life
Spoiler Alert: James Hawkins, Jr. was convicted in the murder of Anttwon Thomas with a sentence of 28 years. An unrelated witness testified Hawkins, Jr. pulled the shotgun on Thomas. That was the opposite of what Hawkins had told the police and public. The really crazy part: shortly after Hawkins was convicted in 1985 he escaped custody and eluded the police for a few months. Eventually, he was caught in No. Calif. Finally, Hawkins, Jr. was convicted of murder AGAIN: a double murder related to a drug deal. He was sentenced to life in prison.
what? Did I hear right? 5 of them gave statements ? And two testified against the 14 defendants? With that kind of solidarity, I don't see these guys being to successful in their criminal careers.
The Hawkins family might the most bad ass family in Los Angeles. They still there selling burgers in the same spot. Props to them and fuck gang members.
James Hawkins Jr., whose family’s stand against a Watts street gang drew praise from law officers and politicians, was sentenced Monday to 28 years in prison for killing a young gang member whose death triggered the violent confrontation. Hawkins, 41, who has a lengthy criminal record, received the maximum sentence of six years for voluntary manslaughter, two more years for committing the crime with a firearm and another 20 years because he had previously been convicted of four violent felonies. “It is our contention that the defendant has committed crimes on the installment basis over the entirety of his life . . . ,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Harvey Giss said, as he asked Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ronald S. W. Lew to impose the maximum sentence. “It’s our contention that a balloon payment is now due.” Janis A. Rader, one of Hawkins’ two attorneys, said outside Lew’s courtroom that the sentence was “outrageously disproportionate” to the crime of which Hawkins was convicted. “The court in my opinion continued to display a biased attitude toward the defendant,” Rader said. “That ain’t no justice,” said Hawkins’ elderly father, James Hawkins Sr., who established the family’s businesses in Watts more than 40 years ago. “It wasn’t no shock,” added the younger Hawkins’ wife, Helena. “It didn’t move me, because I knew they were going to go all the way.” The bulk of the younger Hawkins’ sentence was imposed under provisions of a 1982 initiative known as the Victim’s Bill of Rights. The initiative instructs judges in sentencing criminals convicted of certain violent crimes to add five years to their prison terms for each previous similar conviction. In Hawkins’ case, Lew imposed additional, consecutive five-year terms for a 1969 conviction for armed robbery in California, a 1974 conviction for armed robbery in Arkansas, a 1974 conviction for bank robbery in California and a 1975 conviction for assault with a deadly weapon on a California parole officer. As he passed sentence, Lew said, “The defendant has engaged in a pattern of violent conduct which indicates a serious danger to society.” Addressing Hawkins, the judge added, “I do feel the total of 28 years is sufficient and justified in this case, due to the crime alleged . . . and your criminal background.” Before he was sentenced, Hawkins told the judge, “My conduct . . . was not criminal, your honor. I defended myself against an assault. My past conduct has nothing to do with me now. . . . I acted in good faith and ended up being charged with murder.” Hawkins was found guilty last August of the less serious crime of voluntary manslaughter in the Sept. 11, 1983, shotgun death of Anttwon Thomas. Thomas, 19, was a member of the Bounty Hunters gang based in the Nickerson Gardens housing project. The project is across the street from the Hawkins family grocery at Slater Avenue and Imperial Highway, on the border of Watts and Willowbrook. Hawkins testified that Thomas died during a struggle that began after Hawkins stopped Thomas and other gang members from accosting a woman and her children near the Hawkins’ store. Minutes later, Hawkins said, Thomas walked into an arcade adjacent to the grocery. As he tried to eject Thomas, Hawkins testified, Thomas pulled a sawed-off shotgun from the waistband of his trousers. During a struggle for the weapon, Hawkins said, the gun went off and fatally wounded Thomas. Giss, however, produced witnesses whose recollections differed. Ed Lewis, a dispatcher for an alarm company, testified that he watched from across Imperial Highway as Hawkins walked from the arcade to a nearby trailer, retrieved a weapon that appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun and returned to shoot Thomas. Hawkins’ defense attorneys have repeatedly characterized Lewis’ testimony as unreliable and contradictory. For two nights after Thomas’ death, gang members fired shots and hurled Molotov cocktails at the Hawkins store and the family’s adjacent home. Seventeen gang members were later convicted of crimes stemming from the assault. Hawkins was not charged with the killing until the following April, four months after Lewis surfaced as a defense witness at a preliminary hearing for the gang members. After the gang attack, but long before Hawkins was charged, Mayor Tom Bradly and other officials visited the Hawkins home and praised the family for its resolve in remaining in the neighborhood despite the gang attacks. Hawkins and a co-defendant are currently awaiting trial on two other unrelated murder charges stemming from the June, 1984, shooting deaths of two reputed narcotics dealers. Before sentencing, Lew denied motions for a new trial filed by Rader, co-counsel Stephen A. Schwartz and Hawkins, himself. Hawkins asked the judge to set aside the verdict because of Schwartz’s alleged incompetence, saying that Schwartz’s “injudiciousness . . . aggravated the court to the degree of perhaps swaying the court in favor of the prosecution.” Schwartz later declined comment on the accusation.
How she in denial, because of a bias documentary?? Did you actually research the end results of this?? Do you know the son John Hawkins jr was tried and convicted and sentenced to 28 years the killing?? Do you know John Hawkins jr was sentenced to life for 2 separate murders??
Wow, it was rnd these times I heard a saying, the gangs in la will never die, jus multiply... 2021,its not jus west coast, its all over, even UK has bloods n crips, and the colour of skin doesn't matter, this man is just surviving, watta brave man, he's old skool, and what every kid should strive to be a hard worker
one f the main things i'm looking at is the ols skool twinkies and snack cakes and how everything still tasted so good back then....it's shit now..........also a bullet proof glass around the counter like stores have today would have also been nice for them........1984 is one of my fav years from the 80s.....purple rain the movie came out, and mj's thriller album and videos were magic......i miss the 80s.....
I came across this video after watching Bounty Hunter BJ’s interview on SplifTv’s channel explaining the whole situation… what I came up with was James Hawkins Jr. shot & killed lil tony only after his father shit & killed somebody 6 months earlier, both being set free and the bounty hunters attacked them because they felt like the Hawkins were repeatedly getting away with murder! Killing criminals who were not killing during their (alleged)crimes….
Exactly!!! Let it would've been an asian, Arabian, Mexican or caucasian proprietor...they wouldn't lay a finger on them... cowards Degenerates despise someone holding them accountable and responsible for their poor decisions
🤦♂️🤦♂️ did you research the end results of this or you really watched this bias documentary and came to that conclusion?? Because the convicted bank robber John Hawkins jr was tried and convicted for this murder (28 year sentence) and 2 separate murders ( life without parole) that happened not long after this was released
I recall that segment when it first aired while I lived in Oakland, CA. People talk about courage of police and soldiers. Can you not see the sheer courage, bravery and valor of that family in Los Angeles who refused to be intimidated. Right now as a nation we are discussing anti-Asian sentiment and that is a worthy cause to discuss. To be African-American and under assault by the establishment and gangs...My God!
Pops Hawkins great man set his family up for success and served their community but living across the street from the jects one was bound to be about that life
Just me or every trial I’ve seen in la has this Asian judge 😂😂start this documentary it’s set in ‘84 yet there here is young asf jk idk if it’s same guy but that’s so funny to me
The problem is we don’t share information the Hawkins family should’ve showed the community how to get loans by property don’t just make money off us show us how to eat as well so we can all be wealthy so we not looking at one another like food
So you believe that BS story because of a biased documentary?? Because you clearly don’t know the end results of this case, John Hawkins jr was convicted and sentenced to 28 years for this killing and then convicted and sentenced to life without parole for 2 separate murders
Drugs, Crime, & Doing time ☆ th-cam.com/video/Lui_MglHDoE/w-d-xo.html
P
HI was there a 2nd part to this documentary. PS i hope you can get PBS FRONTLINE "DOWN FOR THE COUNT" about boxing deaths
it was the crack
I@@sheidellee1922
It’s really inspiring how the Hawkins family were so successful and had many businesses even though they were from a rough neighborhood
As a black man, we have been our own worst enemy for the last 50 years. When we were oppressed and racially persecuted, we treated each other better.
Only 45 years🤔
thats the truth
Ok with that said What are you 3 willing to do about it ?
@@julianhampton8799 starts with the man in the mirror and our households...Family level first...Then neighborhood...Then community....Then...
I think you meant over 300 years.
This is when TV was at its golden age !
In the 80s?
1980s television has some of the most mundane, family show wasteland, out there.
🤢🤮
gangs, crack, hiv, serial killers, prostitution & etc - at all time high. The news was never boring
the best documentaries. nowdays they dont use as much effort or passion, the info is just given to them.
The son was later charged with murder.
He was sentenced to 28 years in prison, but escaped during a 1985 court appearance on other charges. After his recapture, he was also convicted of the 1984 murders of two purported drug dealers and sentenced to life in prison.
Not long after his son's escape, the elder Hawkins told an interviewer: 'You just always have a bad apple, you know, in the bunch. I did all I know to do, I did everything there was to raise 'em. I have 14 of them and never been on county (welfare). He's the one who's given us all the trouble.'
Oh wow, I wonder if he's still alive or in jail
Still there
@@igfromthe323 what son
@@cognitive7414 His son that was accused of murder is still in prison. I was replying to the first comment
He was charged with double murder of drug dealers life no parole
This channel is the gold mine of vintage documentaries
Rip james hawkins . I salute your whole family. This should have been a movie
Back when even the bad guys had good parents.
Real shit bruh.
Yes and every mother thinks that their son is not guilty.
He has a right to stay at his house.
Yes they only understand lead . Hunt them down like the animals they are and end them. Like rabid dog you have to do it for the community.
RIGHT
That's why we need fathers in our homes so we can learn how to be men.
Lack of father's is not what set this bullshit in motion. Most blacks were still married at this time.
@@DJRenee yeah I agree seems like everyone was in on it dads, sons ,the guy up the street ,the guy around the corner...the next door neighbor 😳
We need to be men anyway, despite not having a father around, growing up father less is no longer a excuse to act wild,and not own the things you do, facts.
Men dont lie
Or steal.
@Imani yeah that's a bunch of bs dude
Yay!! The entire Frontline episode. 🔥 This is a rare gem.
I lived it. I lived there. I seen those guys daily but they never really messed with me just warned me. That guy testify did not live in the NGs he was cool with them all.
Man I hope I can set my children up to win like this he even had a son become a farmer that’s very impressive don’t see many black farmers
Yep he made sure his family had moneys an it’s a lot of them I know them 🙂
His son was framing directly in the hood too! 💯💯
In 1920 there were 1 million farmers of African descent today we have less than 45 thousand farmers of African descent. We have literally lost the ability to feed ourselves. That didn’t happen by accident.
Facts that man set his kids up for life
Yay
I like how the Hawkins men conducted themselves when talking to the reporters. They weren't emotional, they spoke clear and well detailed.
real men raised with a father . not emotional mommys boys
Far from these dumbass wannabe thugs.
Agree! There're more of us out there than the popular narrative would have one believe.
Well...they are humans...not amimals 🤷♂️
Nothing like these young men today!💯🤷🏽♂️🙄😩
My naive ass didn't realize how violent things were in the 80's
If you weren’t in an urban core you wouldn’t of known cause everywhere else was relatively peaceful.
It was, but there were no cameras to constantly program our brain to be paranoid
Those fatherless p.o.s. were just jealous of this family and this strong patriarch, Mr. Hawkins. He raised great kids and very brave sons. This is what they are trying to destroy today,...the strength and order of patriarchal-rule.
What can you do
foh James jr is dirty af
You said it brother
@@cricket1269 the more people that become aware of the original set ups and the fall out from it, the faster they can make the mental and than physical shift needed.
The man with the father is the Worst Criminal of all a grown man with the best of everything turned to crime and shot a child. You sound like a p.o.s. yourself
The Hawkins Family ain’t playing no games ! Salute to them
This is the kind of black family the gov’t doesn’t want you to know ever existed.
Now they are about to lose their contract sad..
Why not?
@@jordanm1651 let’s start with a father at the head of family. Now days thousands of white people & a few minorities have entire careers based on the breakup of the family structure. Clearly these types of government policies disproportionately effect black families. There’s a concerted effort by all media platforms to suppress this type of information.
@@kobenbawest Agree 💯
@@kobenbawest true the welfare state help ruin the black family
Love these old gems, I even like the old commercials
Mr Hawkins has that Black Wall Street mentality! 🙌🏾
Meanwhile, Kanye West has 1000x more money than black wall street ever had. What’s he doing for the community?
@@TurboRonin83 we can’t just blame Kanye look at all the wealth he have as a whole with “rappers” , entertainers and athletes and we still can’t get in the same page financially
@@TurboRonin83 Nobody owes us their money or what they worked hard to get. That's a bad mentality that only the black community has and it needs to stop. Our communities would change almost over night if we changed the way we think. It's really simple. Leave other people alone. Wait your turn. Do everything you can For Yourself. Respect those who succeed before you. And keep on pushing.
except the black man is trying to burn him out, not the white man!
@@TurboRonin83 he's too busy chasing bimbo kardashian
Go down South and you can STILL find African American families just like this one. Still have the true essence of our people. We’ve lost this in California unfortunately
you are FONDATIONAL Black American.
Not Atlanta
The undercover police officer sounded like he wanted one of the Hawkins dead too.
Momma Cynthia and crew, we thank you! 😉💞
Big respect to this family!.... if there were more strong families like this there wouldn't be no gang problem....stand up guys!....salute!
The look on cappuccino face with that perm lol 😂
So I was standing here with a 351 Winchester.
They don't make them like old man Hawkins anymore . He reminds me of my grandfather
I swear I give the Hawkins family respect, the son did that young blood griney the way he killed him, and they manage to survive the attacks of a gang that deep and dangerous, I drove to Hawkins burgers today to eat but it was to many people in line.. and was amazed how the structure is still there today, I also looked in the area where they had the fort and bunker lol it’s all still there! Crazy
The son killed a bounty hunter ?
@@jesusleon3774 the son was a more serious gangster than most of those guys that was trying to get him. he killed several people and was a member of the bgf
the report is very biased
@@bigbaba4542 Black business owners are supposed to be saints in that area? The son kept his family alive from those street clowns..
@@kdub8126 He was a Business owner not just a Black business owner Who are you??
44:35 mom said the little kid talked to cops and they burned him and made him suck them off? Wtf??
This is better then any movie
Someone Should make a movie about this!
definitely! I was thinking the same thing
Facts that would Don Cheedle as Mr Hawkins
Yup fuck the bloods
@@kwiz90 And me as blood who went to the witness stand
Frontline did
2021 Hawkins burgers are still available just had one over the weekend. What's crazy I remember when all this was going down but never knew they made a documentary / mini movie about it very interesting. And after watching this I'm going back next weekend much respect💪
@@schoc13
Actually, some do on the low. Just like Nipsey Hussle, but on a smaller scale.
Do you know what happened to the kids like where are they now and are they still having beef the Hawkins?
The daughter open the burger stand so they still there
Best damn burger in all of Los Angeles!!! look them up here on YT and Yelp reviews!! The Whipper burger is 🔥🔥🔥
Wow i never knew about all this. I just went to Hawkins burgers the other day 2/20/23 on my B-day. One of the Best Burgers ive ever eaten. Not really knowing where I was you could easily tell it was a blood area from the surrounding peoples attire.. it was a Bitter sweet moment.. The Bitter was the 30 min wait in the heart of one of the most dangerous gang neighborhoods in the world. the sweet was that bombazz tripple Burger I had.. i would go back one day but with extreme caution.
Always call in your order when ordering from spots in the hood
@@mfburns7909thanks for the info
I’m here from Kraig facts do your homework it hit different
Watching old videos or old documentaries about the past is like stepping into a Time Machine but it’s youTube.
Seen This Spot On Snowfall When Skully Shot At Leon & Hit Wanda
That’s what I thought. I knew the name was familiar
Stand for something or fall for anything.
The truth
James hawkins jr had a record worst than most of the Bounty hunters.
So what
@@macgyder it means he is the same as the gang! He knew he could get away with murder. The way they huddled up talking about how they was shooting and stuff shows who they really are.
Everybody not perfect. He still protected his family
@@harryrobinson6282 he ain’t protect his family he blew little dudes shoulder off and tried to blame the kid. Dude was a real gangsta!
@@harryrobinson6282 He was also still a criminal who murdered a unarmed teenager.
Tree Tops was the sketchiest person in the video lol
Respect to the HAWKINS Family for standing up as men. You don't have to be a gangsta to be tough and a warrior and stand up guy.
James Hawkins Jr was in a gang. Maybe do some research before typing.
@@balle733so why didn’t you research that these men were just trying to protect what was there’s…
@@robbankzzz9084 I did. Why didn’t you research that James Hawkins was in a gang?
@@balle733 So would you not protect what’s yours ???
@@robbankzzz9084bet you didn’t know James Hawkins got found guilty for the manslaughter of that boy & did actually lie about the boy having the shotgun lol then caught another case for killing two dudes execution style. Media can paint anybody to be the hero, you’re just silly enough not to do any further research lol
31:55 BBBBBounty Hunter BJ ladies and gentlemen 😂😂😂
39:30 Damn....guy has 4 felony convictions and they're serious bank robbery, postal robbey, etc. Dude sounds as bad as the gang bangers.
but wasn't about that, it's about gangs terrorizing the community
All due respect to this poor mother but instead of blaming everyone else for her son's death she needs to look at the fools around her
What business does this woman have- having SEVEN children when she can’t afford to take care of ONE. Pls tell me.
No father. No job. Nothing.
I don’t get it.
@Lawdog Longshoremen ••• Antwan Thomas Mother Blamed The RIGHT Person For Killing Her Son and IT WAS James Hawkins Jr. aka The Murderer 👁👁 🔎🔎🔎
@@michaelcavallacci2945 none of your damn business.
@@algernonfranklin3193 naaaah. Unfortunately it is my fuckin business wise ass. Because when these people have seven kids when they can’t take care of one, the tax paying public has to pay for these kids- their welfare, housing, food stamps, schools ( that they don’t attend) then their inevitable arrests, court cases, incarcerations, then the unwanted kids they eventually have and it starts all over again.
When these people pay their own freight, and if they are isolated in areas where their mayhem doesn’t affect decent people, then it’s not my business. But when I’m paying, unfortunately it is.
Go ahead defend these creeps.
Did you watch the video are just make shit up in your head
I remember this back n the day my mom was real good friends with the mother of the victim who was gunned down...I remember attending the funeral ...so sad may he continue to rest
Told denial. You son ain’t at home. He soon something
@@anthonysmith4179 what?
Rip
I wish this family would open a store in my neighborhood. We would welcome this beautiful family and they would prosper here. Damn, I wonder what happened to them.
The burger spot is still there
Yeah seriously. Come open one up at La Cienaga and 3rd, you'll do great!
Hawkins Burgers is still standing. 👊🏾Respect to them..
and many of those same gang members are probably no longer with us
Hawkins fam & Burger joint won the war!
Salute to the Hawkins Family. Gangs in LA have bullied the community too long
⚔ I'm from Georgia but was raised in the suburbs of Chicago. The neighborhood that I grew up in had strong families. Most of whom who had migrated from the south. Southern people are very family oriented. You mess with one. You're challenging the family. It's going down. This was not about class. It was about VALUES! Respect to the Hawkins family.
Everybody in watts is from the south, including the gang members
That's how it is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Are you from the south suburbs if so which one exactly ?
@@mojomiles8773 I grew up out north. Great Lakes area. Lake County to be exact.
@@mojomiles8773 No I'm from a hood called Glen Oaks aka OAK TOWN which is on the North side of Baton Rouge.
Almost 40 years later and LAPD still holds the title for the biggest and most vicious gang in the city
The parents are to blame. Instead of speaking out against gang violence, they talk about their poor babies. This will never end with families like this.
Its 2021, its Wayyy Worse
And they wonder why a kid who's bad at school ends up in prison when all their parent did was go up there and defend his bad ass kid against teachers trying to discipline him
I hate to see this type of twisted shit but That's how A family supposed to stick together
James Hawkins Jr was found guilty and sentenced to 28yrs for killing dude. He escaped and was charged with the deaths of two drug dealers and sentenced to double life. He also was charged with having a shootout with police.
Unbelievable!
Dayumm Jr was gangsta for real....
How did he get out????
@@miked9425 what? they were being attacked tho right? havent watched whole thing yet
I brain farted. I thought they were referring to the sun of the store owner. Not one of the scumbag gangsters. Who I of course deserve justice. Citizens cannot power and fear to these parasites.
And the bottom line to it all is that Hawkins Burger is still there today and loved by everyone in that area.
Funny cap was speaking on mc8 supposedly tellin and here he go 🤣
Faxtz
Burgers any good?
@@jacktripper8726 best burger in LA imo
@@senor3929 Appreciate it
Awesome footage, TH-cam definitely provides us history, thanks for posting.
Woo more frontline episodes this is 🔥.
All I get from this is a sense of emboldening to not just take crap from people. No one’s feeling sorry for these gang members terrorizing their community..
some of these commenters are feeling sorry for them and blaming cops and hawkins family
Amen to that@
Watkins Jr. Was terrorizing the community despite his family businesses!
You idolize the gang members. They steal from you and terrorize you and you put them as your gods....then blame everyone and everything except yourselves
The Hawkins had multiple businesses and plenty of money. Seems like the gang was looking for the money
Its crazy how much back in the old days they looked so much more gangster and scary then now the gangsters wear tight clothes and have girl lookin hair lol
U still will get violated or robbed if u fukk around
Lol they wore tight clothes back then to with the jerri curls,perms and finger waves only difference is the music and internet
Not in my era the 90s the 70s and 80s not the 90s it was dickie suits and chucks
Right
They didn't just look more gangster they were more gangster.
That ''ex gang member'' is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorcycle. Notice when he says ''you cant kill a gang member unless you have a goo...... (trails off as he realises)
But you don't bother throwing in a time stamp?
Well he was speaking about the street code. He didn’t want to give it
unless you have a good reason lol
Right he definitely no help lol
Hes Smiling about the MORTUARY fire cause, They burned it for the insurance Money
Damn even on the google maps picture damus stay posted in front of the burger joint. This business is lucky to have survived this and still standing today with the jects facing their building and compton nearby.
I’m sure they made a peace treaty after awhile cause no one can’t outlast a hood that deep
@@DonDayJR You prolly rite cause dat would be decades of funk between a family business n ah gang thats directly across tha street.
@@runitback5066 the Hawkins son was a gunner tho, he ended up gettin charged for killin that kid, and he got charged for 2 more bodies, left a nigga hog tied with billets in him.. I think after the son went to jail the bounty hunters lowkey was like fuck it, cause they had homies stretched out in jail over messing wit them and they had internal snitch issues at the time so I’m sure after the killer got his justice they said fuck it.. search Hawkins jr dude was crazy AF man
@@runitback5066 I drove over there off imperial 3 days ago to Hawkins burger, the set up is the same damn near
Peace Brother. I’m from Chicago. I found this story fascinating. Please give me instructions on how I can take a look at this store and surrounding area on google maps. Thank you.
At 42:00 the Mom said she had to run outside and stop the gang from making the son suck they privates because he told the police some names . If that’s not the fruitiest shit I ever heard in my life
A lot people missed that part no respect for them they really had Young guys doing that
Dammn😮
Beautiful black family headed by a true patriarch, they don't make em like this anymore
amen. very sad to see those thugs target them. what a beautiful family
@@worldwidereviewst.v699 Thug is an understatement
I hope u r wrong about the part "they dont make me like this anymore"
@@alnorth612 Artifact
Need ALOT more of this, but it's almost extinct.
We had it with the brits ! Fight for your family and country, from Ireland!
Spoiler Alert: James Hawkins, Jr. was convicted in the murder of Anttwon Thomas with a sentence of 28 years. An unrelated witness testified Hawkins, Jr. pulled the shotgun on Thomas. That was the opposite of what Hawkins had told the police and public.
The really crazy part: shortly after Hawkins was convicted in 1985 he escaped custody and eluded the police for a few months. Eventually, he was caught in No. Calif. Finally, Hawkins, Jr. was convicted of murder AGAIN: a double murder related to a drug deal. He was sentenced to life in prison.
So the family was sticking up for a serial killer 🤦🏿
I knew something was off about him
I support Hawkins
That blood lust is something else, and of course someone always has a carefully crafted narrative to justify their BS.
WwwOOAh..
“We got the biggest gang in the city…”
🎯
They need to get bigger
@@emperorchad4492 negative
I wonder how many of these guys are still alive. I would almost bet the house that it's not more than 5
Huh? Wym
All but 2 are still alive if i’m not mistaken
@@redfishbluefish1 how many hot killed ?
One of them is Cappuccino from bh utube him he was talkin bout 8 snitchin and well u seen him
Been almost 40 years ago, they look like they were in their late 20s or 30s
Man this would make a great movie!
what? Did I hear right? 5 of them gave statements ? And two testified against the 14 defendants? With that kind of solidarity, I don't see these guys being to successful in their criminal careers.
Is that OG Capichino...,Did he give a Statement ?
@@kivabolton4448 yup he did
What an amazing documentary.
RESPECT TO THE HAWKINS FAMILY
James was a hitta and hard-core BGF. He was no jive ass punk.
bounty hunter bj wrote a statement
They said Curtis Johnson but the dude looked like BJ I instantly google what’s BJs real name
The Hawkins family might the most bad ass family in Los Angeles. They still there selling burgers in the same spot. Props to them and fuck gang members.
I could never sit there next to a “friend” who’s statement is being read with them telling on me
the gangs will take care of the friend then the defense attorney will be defending the bad guy again who don't lie to his momma!
This is a classic one. I hope you find the episode "DOWN FOR THE COUNT" INSIDE STORY OF BOXING
This is the type of man that should be admired and used as a role model.
Louies mother commentary ripped at my heart man.
James Hawkins Jr., whose family’s stand against a Watts street gang drew praise from law officers and politicians, was sentenced Monday to 28 years in prison for killing a young gang member whose death triggered the violent confrontation.
Hawkins, 41, who has a lengthy criminal record, received the maximum sentence of six years for voluntary manslaughter, two more years for committing the crime with a firearm and another 20 years because he had previously been convicted of four violent felonies.
“It is our contention that the defendant has committed crimes on the installment basis over the entirety of his life . . . ,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Harvey Giss said, as he asked Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ronald S. W. Lew to impose the maximum sentence. “It’s our contention that a balloon payment is now due.”
Janis A. Rader, one of Hawkins’ two attorneys, said outside Lew’s courtroom that the sentence was “outrageously disproportionate” to the crime of which Hawkins was convicted.
“The court in my opinion continued to display a biased attitude toward the defendant,” Rader said.
“That ain’t no justice,” said Hawkins’ elderly father, James Hawkins Sr., who established the family’s businesses in Watts more than 40 years ago.
“It wasn’t no shock,” added the younger Hawkins’ wife, Helena. “It didn’t move me, because I knew they were going to go all the way.”
The bulk of the younger Hawkins’ sentence was imposed under provisions of a 1982 initiative known as the Victim’s Bill of Rights. The initiative instructs judges in sentencing criminals convicted of certain violent crimes to add five years to their prison terms for each previous similar conviction.
In Hawkins’ case, Lew imposed additional, consecutive five-year terms for a 1969 conviction for armed robbery in California, a 1974 conviction for armed robbery in Arkansas, a 1974 conviction for bank robbery in California and a 1975 conviction for assault with a deadly weapon on a California parole officer.
As he passed sentence, Lew said, “The defendant has engaged in a pattern of violent conduct which indicates a serious danger to society.”
Addressing Hawkins, the judge added, “I do feel the total of 28 years is sufficient and justified in this case, due to the crime alleged . . . and your criminal background.”
Before he was sentenced, Hawkins told the judge, “My conduct . . . was not criminal, your honor. I defended myself against an assault. My past conduct has nothing to do with me now. . . . I acted in good faith and ended up being charged with murder.”
Hawkins was found guilty last August of the less serious crime of voluntary manslaughter in the Sept. 11, 1983, shotgun death of Anttwon Thomas.
Thomas, 19, was a member of the Bounty Hunters gang based in the Nickerson Gardens housing project. The project is across the street from the Hawkins family grocery at Slater Avenue and Imperial Highway, on the border of Watts and Willowbrook.
Hawkins testified that Thomas died during a struggle that began after Hawkins stopped Thomas and other gang members from accosting a woman and her children near the Hawkins’ store. Minutes later, Hawkins said, Thomas walked into an arcade adjacent to the grocery.
As he tried to eject Thomas, Hawkins testified, Thomas pulled a sawed-off shotgun from the waistband of his trousers. During a struggle for the weapon, Hawkins said, the gun went off and fatally wounded Thomas.
Giss, however, produced witnesses whose recollections differed. Ed Lewis, a dispatcher for an alarm company, testified that he watched from across Imperial Highway as Hawkins walked from the arcade to a nearby trailer, retrieved a weapon that appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun and returned to shoot Thomas. Hawkins’ defense attorneys have repeatedly characterized Lewis’ testimony as unreliable and contradictory.
For two nights after Thomas’ death, gang members fired shots and hurled Molotov cocktails at the Hawkins store and the family’s adjacent home. Seventeen gang members were later convicted of crimes stemming from the assault.
Hawkins was not charged with the killing until the following April, four months after Lewis surfaced as a defense witness at a preliminary hearing for the gang members.
After the gang attack, but long before Hawkins was charged, Mayor Tom Bradly and other officials visited the Hawkins home and praised the family for its resolve in remaining in the neighborhood despite the gang attacks.
Hawkins and a co-defendant are currently awaiting trial on two other unrelated murder charges stemming from the June, 1984, shooting deaths of two reputed narcotics dealers.
Before sentencing, Lew denied motions for a new trial filed by Rader, co-counsel Stephen A. Schwartz and Hawkins, himself.
Hawkins asked the judge to set aside the verdict because of Schwartz’s alleged incompetence, saying that Schwartz’s “injudiciousness . . . aggravated the court to the degree of perhaps swaying the court in favor of the prosecution.”
Schwartz later declined comment on the accusation.
Smh @ the gang member’s mother is in total denial.
How she in denial, because of a bias documentary?? Did you actually research the end results of this?? Do you know the son John Hawkins jr was tried and convicted and sentenced to 28 years the killing?? Do you know John Hawkins jr was sentenced to life for 2 separate murders??
@@longgirl5 Fr fr?
They own the morgue as well i think they have it all sown up...
Wow, it was rnd these times I heard a saying, the gangs in la will never die, jus multiply... 2021,its not jus west coast, its all over, even UK has bloods n crips, and the colour of skin doesn't matter, this man is just surviving, watta brave man, he's old skool, and what every kid should strive to be a hard worker
Damn they own a funeral service company and serviced the body of a man they killed.
Sheesh that's a small town
Very few business left after watts riots. Neighboring city's. Charge double or booked
Yep . Los Angeles is super small.
@@bobpotts9993 that’s Watts not LA but it is los Angels county
@@dbafterthatbag6477 watts is jus a hood in LA
@@lilyup323 watts is a city my dude. Are you from California? A nigga from watts will tell you the same thing
The Hawkins family was just protecting what they had and built. This street guys wanted something that didn’t belong to them.
They killed two people in a 6 month span and got to walk because Daddy had money. Bet if Hawkins were a white family you'd call em demons lmao
The crazy thing they just had a murder in projects a week ago ain't nothing changed in over over 35 years
@Karla Hernandez YA MOVA SELL ASS VIA CASHAPP
@@spazdaangrymf3541 what is mova, anyways why you answer that way, we’re you offended
one f the main things i'm looking at is the ols skool twinkies and snack cakes and how everything still tasted so good back then....it's shit now..........also a bullet proof glass around the counter like stores have today would have also been nice for them........1984 is one of my fav years from the 80s.....purple rain the movie came out, and mj's thriller album and videos were magic......i miss the 80s.....
I came across this video after watching Bounty Hunter BJ’s interview on SplifTv’s channel explaining the whole situation… what I came up with was James Hawkins Jr. shot & killed lil tony only after his father shit & killed somebody 6 months earlier, both being set free and the bounty hunters attacked them because they felt like the Hawkins were repeatedly getting away with murder! Killing criminals who were not killing during their (alleged)crimes….
So what happened to the kids are they still locked today?
But yet and still, SOME foreign business owners open up their business in black communities that are gang-infected but nobody bothers them.
Exactly!!! Let it would've been an asian, Arabian, Mexican or caucasian proprietor...they wouldn't lay a finger on them... cowards
Degenerates despise someone holding them accountable and responsible for their poor decisions
A great demonstration of hatred and jealousy within our race. Sad. Sad. Sad. I commend the Hawkins family.
🤦♂️🤦♂️ did you research the end results of this or you really watched this bias documentary and came to that conclusion?? Because the convicted bank robber John Hawkins jr was tried and convicted for this murder (28 year sentence) and 2 separate murders ( life without parole) that happened not long after this was released
@@longgirl5 it wasn't about john hawkins jr
I recall that segment when it first aired while I lived in Oakland, CA. People talk about courage of police and soldiers. Can you not see the sheer courage, bravery and valor of that family in Los Angeles who refused to be intimidated. Right now as a nation we are discussing anti-Asian sentiment and that is a worthy cause to discuss. To be African-American and under assault by the establishment and gangs...My God!
The television and reality are two different things.👹💀
No you FBA FONDATIONAL BLACK AMERICAN.
hawkins family was legit, they should have made james sr mayor of watts
I LOVE this family. ✊🏽✊🏿✊🏾❤️🙏🏽
All them cats ratted. Wow. No honor and no balls.
I swear "suspect #5" look just like a young Franklin Saint! 😂😂
😂😂😂
Aye no disrespect but when the crips from the 80s say all the bloods back then was dark n ugly @46:50 I low key see why😂😂😂
Respect to the Hawkins
So now we know the founder of TreeTop piru ended up working for the man👮🏻♂️
Lol
I wouldn’t have known this was Judy Woodruff if she hadn’t said it.
KRAIG FACTS BROUGHT ME HERE
I wonder if james hawkins has any offspring in the bounty hunter bloods. Just a thought!
Pops Hawkins great man set his family up for success and served their community but living across the street from the jects one was bound to be about that life
Just me or every trial I’ve seen in la has this Asian judge 😂😂start this documentary it’s set in ‘84 yet there here is young asf jk idk if it’s same guy but that’s so funny to me
The problem is we don’t share information the Hawkins family should’ve showed the community how to get loans by property don’t just make money off us show us how to eat as well so we can all be wealthy so we not looking at one another like food
FACTS
Hawkins Sr came here when things were cheap and bought land outright lol. LOANS? Houses were $1000 in the 30s way easier to get va $500,000
This is history, they still own businesses in watts in 2024!
Yo son was a bounty hunter an he was robbing someone then walked in the store to confront the stopper yo son got what he deserved
So you believe that BS story because of a biased documentary?? Because you clearly don’t know the end results of this case, John Hawkins jr was convicted and sentenced to 28 years for this killing and then convicted and sentenced to life without parole for 2 separate murders
Seeing blacks without a rap song in the background is refreshing