Steven Hawkins dies in fatal Anaheim motel shooting

Steven Hawkins dies in fatal Anaheim motel shooting

Fatal Anaheim motel shooting death of Steven Hawkins

Steven Hawkins, 66, was shot and killed Saturday evening at a motel in Anaheim, and a suspect has now been formally charged in connection to his death.

Amir Karkehabadi, 59, also of Anaheim, was arrested and charged Tuesday with one count of murder, including a sentencing enhancement for using a firearm that caused death.

The shooting took place at the Villa Inn located at 733 South Beach Boulevard. Anaheim police were called to the scene around 6:12 p.m., where they found Hawkins with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital but died about an hour later.

Karkehabadi entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment at the jail courtroom in Santa Ana. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 26 at the North Justice Center in Fullerton.

Authorities have not disclosed the relationship, if any, between Karkehabadi and Hawkins.

Court records show Karkehabadi had previously been charged in a racially motivated assault in Stanton in January 2023. That incident involved a physical altercation with a woman and threats against a man, accompanied by racial slurs. Although concerns over Karkehabadi’s mental health were raised by defense attorneys, efforts to divert that case were unsuccessful, and the charges were later dismissed in May 2024.

The investigation into the motel shooting remains ongoing.