Emotional vigil held for Walker Co. teen

WALKER COUNTY, AL (WBRC) - Wednesday night, friends and family gathered in memory of Nicholas Hawkins, just hours after the coroner identified his body.

The coroner has not yet released his cause of death but family members say they believe someone had been trying to hurt the 19-year-old.

Investigators say Hawkins called his mom saying he feared for his life. Then his body was found Tuesday night. Dozens showed up for a candlelight vigil in Dora and it didn't take long for the tears to start flowing.

"It warms my heart to let me know all these people cared so much for Nick," said Jacob Hawkins.

Jacob Hawkins is Nicholas Hawkins' brother. He says he's waiting to wake up from a nightmare. His brother meant the world to him.

"If you met him you would understand," said Jacob. "Who would want to kill this kid? I mean, he was 19. So young, so fragile and innocent and sweet."

As Jacob stood in the middle of the crowd at the candlelight vigil saying things about Nicholas and his fun personality, that's when just about everyone started crying.

"He was a comedian," Christine Cooper said. "He'd make you laugh. Always make you laugh. He loved anybody and he was a good-hearted person."

"Why did they do this to my best friend?" a tearful Katheren Rogers asked.

And that's the question everyone has: why?

Jacob says he's heartbroken because his brother is gone but what he can't get over is the way his life was taken away.

"It's hard. I'm still in shock," Jacob said. "I hope we get swift, severe justice. From what I was told it was a horrible, horrible death."

Deputies found his body at an illegal dumping site in Walker County.

There is a person of interest in the case who is in custody on unrelated charges at the Walker County Jail.

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