Police: Man shot, killed near Snellville during home invasion

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Investigators believe an early morning shooting death near Snellville was the result of a home invasion, Gwinnett County Police said Thursday.

Homeowners in the Prescott at Mink Livsey subdivision off Turner Hill Road were stunned to learn about the death of 27-year-old Kemar Hawkins.

Police received a 911 call at around 4:15 a.m. in the 3000 block of Grand Manor Trail, where they found the father of 2 with a gunshot wound.

Medics rushed Hawkins to an area hospital where he died.

One of the victim’s friends told FOX 5’s Aungelique Proctor, “He was very hardworking. He would always go to work and come home. He always took care of his daughters. He was a really good friend and I am sad that this happened to him."

Police said the victim lived at the home, but they weren’t immediately sure if he owned it.

Crime Scene Units processed the scene for hours as family members including Mr. Hawkins’ brother looked on.

The brother told FOX 5 Kemar was a Chef at a restaurant on Memorial Drive, who did very little outside of work and home.

Police spokesman Cop. Wilbert Rundles said at the scene, "We are looking into motive and why he was targeted."

Detectives interviewed neighbors to hopefully learn why a killer would have targeted the father of two.

Late Thursday afternoon, police said in a news release they believe the killer pried a screen from an open window, entered the home, and killed Hawkins.