North Charlotte Domestic Shooting Leaves Sheriff’s Deputy Dead

CHARLOTTE, NC -- A homicide investigation is underway after a Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office deputy was shot and killed in an incident involving his wife, who is also a MCSO deputy, in north Charlotte Monday afternoon in what Charlotte police are describing as a case of domestic violence.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police were called to the 13300 block of Ashley Meadow Drive Monday shortly after 4 p.m. after receiving a 911 call for help reporting a domestic violence assault with a deadly weapon. There they found Deputy Sheriff James Hawkins, 35, with shot to death inside the home. He was pronounced dead on the scene by paramedics, according to a CMPD report.

“At this time it appears to be a domestic related shooting and we are not searching for anyone,” CMPD said. Police have not made any arrests in this case.

According to a statement by MCSO spokesperson Anjanette Flowers Grube, the incident also involved Deputy Sheriff Rataba Hawkins, who was the deceased’s wife. “Our hearts go out to their family as they cope and grieve with this tragedy,” Grube said.

Rataba Hawkins has been on the MCSO force for 16 years and is currently assigned to Field Operations, Grube said. James Hawkins had been with MCSO since 2005, and was assigned to Arrest Processing.

This case marks the fourth murder in Charlotte in 2018, all of which have been related to domestic violence.

CMPD asks anyone with information about this case contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600, or Homicide Unit Detective Peacock at 704-432-TIPS.

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