COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — The family of three people, murdered inside their gun shop in Coweta County is talking for the first time about the tragic incident.
Tommy and Evelyn Hawk and their grandson Luke were gunned down inside Lock, Stock and Barrell Gun Range in Grantville on April 8.
Police arrested Jacob Muse for their murders.
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Investigators determined that Muse had stolen more than 40 guns and also disabled cameras at the business.
Luke Hawk’s father, Coweta County Coroner Richard Hawk, found the bodies of his family. Police later arrested Jacob Muse for the family’s murders.
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Channel 2′s Larry Spruill attended the news conference held by the Hawk family and law enforcement.
Hawk remembered the moment he found his parents and son shot and killed. Hawk made the initial 9-1-1 call.
“That’s my baby boy lying in there,” Hawk said.
Hawk said there have been many tough days and nights since then, but he’s relying on his faith to help him through it.
“I’m telling you, God’s grace is sufficient,” Hawk said. “The peace that surpasses all understanding. I can’t explain it, but God. There are six letters and it’s, ‘BUT GOD’.”
The family thanked police for the way they handled the case and making a quick arrest of Muse. Spruill also asked Hawk what it felt like knowing that Muse is behind bars.
“Does it bring comfort? Um yes. That’s always going to be the answer. How did I feel? I was excited. A little disbelief at first. It was like a ton of bricks lifted off my shoulder,” Hawk said.
Hawk said that after Monday, they will not speak about this case anymore until it goes to court. Right now, they’re preparing for justice.
“Whatever the law allows. To the full extent of the law,” Hawk said.
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Hawk clarified that the family did not know the shooter and that he had a message for Muse.
“I want to tell him about the Lord, because I don’t think he knows him,” said Hawk.
Hawk said that through the tragedy, he’s taken comfort in remembering how his parents lived.
“My mom and dad, Christian people, raised me in a Christian home.” Hawk said. “They spent 75 years together. They died together.”
Hawk shared one of his last conversations with his son, which he had on the Sunday before he was killed.
He said his son was called on to say a prayer at church.
“We got home that day, he said ‘I was nervous dad. Nervous, as I don’t know what,’” Hawk said. “I asked him, ‘How did he do?’ He said, ' just talked to God and it was easy.’”
Hawk said Luke Hawk was the only grandson of all seven of his grandchildren.
“So you can imagine, there are six girls and one little boy, and of course he got spoiled by them Hawk said.
Luke wanted to pursue an Agriculture Degree at ABAC, but he said his proudest moment of his happened some years ago,
“My proudest moment was probably when he was 5 or 6 years old, he accepted the Lord as his personal savior,” Hawk said. “We dedicated Luke to God and he was his to use as he please and I fully believe that.”
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