Javoris Hurston First 48: Who Is The Famous Convicted Murderer?

Michelle Hall
Jan 25, 2024
Jan 25, 2024

In 2018, convicted murderer Javoris Hurston was mistakenly released while serving his 20-year sentence due to miscommunication between county prisons. This quickly made the news and he also appeared in the show"The First 48" So, what's the deal and the story behind him?

Key Takeaways

Javoris Hurston's case highlights systemic communication flaws between county jails, leading to his accidental release during a 20-year sentence.
Hurston's brief freedom, post manslaughter conviction, ended after the victim's family's intervention, spotlighting the emotional impact on victims' families.

Javoris Hurston In The First 48

Source: AJC

Javoris Hurston featured in "The First 48 – Critical Minutes," specifically in the episode titled "Heat of the Moment" from Season 1, Episode 7. This episode, which aired on December 17, 2020, delves into cases that escalated rapidly due to intense emotions. In this segment, Hurston was implicated in the killing of Barry Hawkins, also known as Paco, in Atlanta, Georgia.

The case's details were unsettling. Barry Hawkins, 51, was tragically killed in 2015 in Atlanta, within Fulton County's jurisdiction. Following the incident, Hurston was arrested. Although initially released on bond, Hurston was later apprehended in DeKalb County for an unrelated aggravated assault charge. After pleading guilty to Hawkins's manslaughter in Fulton County, he was briefly and mistakenly released due to a miscommunication between jails in different counties. This error was corrected, and he was taken back into custody.

The impact of Hawkins's death was profound, and his family played a crucial role in ensuring Hurston's capture after his accidental release. The case underscores the complexities and challenges law enforcement faces in managing criminal cases across different jurisdictions.

"The First 48" is known for its raw and real portrayal of homicide investigations, capturing the critical first 48 Hours after a crime is committed. This episode, like many others in the series, offers viewers a glimpse into the intricacies of criminal investigations and the tireless efforts of detectives to bring justice to victims and their families.

What's The Case With javoris Hurston?

Source: Law & Crime

In 2015, Hurston was arrested for the murder of 51-year-old Barry Hawkins in Atlanta. Following his arrest, he was temporarily released on bond. However, his freedom was short-lived as he was soon arrested again in DeKalb County on aggravated assault charges.

The pivotal moment in Hurston's case came in June 2017. After being transferred back to Fulton County, Hurston pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Hawkins and received a 20-year prison sentence. Subsequently, he was sent back to DeKalb County Jail to address the aggravated assault charges. In a surprising turn of events, these charges were dropped on February 15th.

The critical error occurred after the dropping of these charges. DeKalb County Jail, unaware of Hurston's recent manslaughter plea and conviction in Fulton County, released him. This mistake came to light only when Hawkins' family spotted Hurston on the streets and contacted the authorities, questioning how he could be free.

Upon realizing the error, a fugitive squad was deployed, and Hurston was located and returned to jail within two days of his release. The DeKalb County officials attributed the release to a lack of information from Fulton County regarding Hurston's manslaughter case. Fulton County is reportedly investigating the communication breakdown.

This incident raises questions about the communication and procedural coordination between different county jails. DeKalb jail officials stated that there were no procedural errors by their employees, indicating that no disciplinary actions would be taken. Meanwhile, Hurston is currently back in the Fulton County Jail, awaiting transfer to state prison to serve his sentence for Hawkins' death.