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Ryan Hawkins, left, was allegedly shot to death by Andre Briski, middle, during a road rage incident on May 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. Shawna Rowland, right, allegedly aided Briski. (Rowland, Briski: Indiana State Police; image of Hawkins via Facebook.)
Police have arrested two people in a road rage shooting that killed a deaf man on an Indiana highway last week.
Indiana State Police troopers found 35-year-old Ryan Hawkins dead in a pond off the northbound I-65 in Indianapolis around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday. Hawkins was driving when someone in a Ford Explorer started shooting at his Hyundai Elantra, troopers say. Hawkins left the highway, crashed into a pond and was ejected from the car. There were bullet holes on the driver’s side of the Elantra. Hawkins was shot in the neck, according to police.
Hawkins’ family told CW affiliate WISH that the road rage shooting may have been sparked by a “honking incident.”
On Friday, troopers arrested Andre Briski, 24, and Shawna Rowland, 23. Briski is facing charges of murder and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person while Rowland is facing charges of assisting a criminal and obstruction of justice.
Thanks to witnesses and highway cameras, cops tracked down the Explorer and arrested Briski and Rowland.
According to court documents obtained by local ABC affiliate WRTV, witnesses said they saw Hawkins speed away and the Ford Explorer pull up to the driver’s side window and start firing.
But Briski is claiming self-defense. He reportedly said Hawkins was “brake-checking” him on the highway.
“I’ll tell you right here, I did it,” Briski allegedly said. “I didn’t mean to, I was afraid that we were going to crash and die.”
Hawkins attended the Gallaudet University, a school for deaf and hard of hearing students.
“Gallaudet University is saddened by the untimely passing of Ryan Hawkins, a 2013 graduate,” the university said in a statement. “Mr. Hawkins was an active and involved student and a loyal alumnus. His sister is an alumna, and his brother is a current student. We mourn with his family, and wish them peace and comfort.”
Drew Hawkins spoke glowingly of his brother.
“When deaf people meet deaf people, you click instantaneously, because you have similar lives, but Ryan just connected with everyone, he was a beautiful soul,” Drew Hawkins told WISH.
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