2 men shot and killed at northwest Fresno hookah lounge identified

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The two men who were shot and killed at a shopping center in northwest Fresno Sunday night have been identified.

Police say the victims are 41-year-old Felix Hawkins and 32-year-old Akili Moffett.

Hawkins is the son of former Fresno City Councilmember Cynthia Sterling, who was in office from 2003-2011.

The shooting happened in front of a hookah lounge on Milburn and Herndon just before 11 pm Sunday.

Police arrived to find Sterling-Hawkins with multiple gunshot wounds. Meanwhile, Moffitt was driven to the hospital.

Both men died from their injuries.

Detectives say there were somewhere between 30 and 50 people at a private party inside the lounge.

They say Hawkins and Moffitt were involved in a fight before shots were fired.

"At some point, an individual, or a group of individuals, provided - or produced - a firearm. Shots rang out and both Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Moffitt were struck by gunfire," Fresno Police Lieutenant Paul Cervantes said.

Officials say they found multiple shell casings at the scene, but no firearms.

They are still trying to determine how many shooters there were.

"We believe a handgun, at least a handgun, was used. We're still trying to make that determination if there was more than one particular firearm and/or more than one shooter," Lt. Cervantes said.

In a statement to Action News, former councilmember Sterling asked for privacy and prayers.

Fresno Police are still trying to track down surveillance video that can help them identify anyone who fired.

They also say many of the people who were at the private party left before officers arrived.

Anyone who witnessed the shooting is asked to call police with any information they have about what unfolded.

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