Police release new details, seek more witnesses in Fresno hookah lounge homicides

At least 30 to 50 people were at a private party at The O hookah lounge Sunday night in northwest Fresno where two men were shot to death.

Police on Monday identified the victims as Felix Hawkins, 41, and Akili Moffett, 32.

One of the victims was the son of former Fresno Councilmember Cynthia Sterling, a family friend confirmed on Monday. Her personal bio lists her only son as Felix Marcus Sterling-Hawkins. Sterling represented southwest Fresno from 2003 to 2011.

The two men were killed by gun violence that broke out about 11 p.m. Sunday at the lounge on Milburn and Herndon avenues, Fresno Police Lt. Paul Cervantes said.

Hawkins was pronounced dead at the scene. Moffett was taken to the hospital in a vehicle where he was later was pronounced dead.

Cervantes said both men were involved in a fight before “an individual or a group of individuals produced a firearm and shots rang out” outside the hookah lounge.

Several businesses and an unoccupied vehicle were struck by gunfire.

Cervantes added that there is no “indication that shots rang out inside the establishment.”

“We don’t know how many shooters,” Cervantes said. “There were a number of shell casings. We believe a handgun was used. We know Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Moffett were involved in a physical confrontation. The sequence of events that happened thereafter is very significant for us. This is why we need assistance from individuals that were present that presumably observed or heard what was going on so they can provide us with details to paint a clearer picture for us.”

Cervantes said “quite possibly” Moffett and Hawkins had an altercation at another location prior to the shooting.

Police retrieved some video, but are hopeful to get video from the hookah lounge and the Armed Forces Recruiting Center, located next the O. One of the videos police recovered has sound.

Cervantes said the hookah lounge opened on Jan. 28.

No guns were found at the scene, he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 559-621-7000.