Adrienne Hickson

Background

Adrienne Emily Hickson was a 24-year-old law student and had been a student at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She had studied law in Washington, D.C., and was looking forward to a career in criminal law. After college, she got into a prestigious law school in Washington, D.C., while Shawn Washington got a full-time job in Atlanta. They stayed together despite the 600 miles separating them, but the long-distance relationship showed signs of strain.

The couple began dating when they were both students at Tennessee State University, and a brother of the victim said they had a stormy relationship. Isaac Washington, Shawn Washington’s brother, said the couple began fighting because Hickson believed her boyfriend of several years was having an affair.

The offence

On December 21, after a loud argument in the parking lot of Shawn Washington’s apartment, Hickson and Shawn Washington decided to take the fight inside. Ten minutes later, Shawn Washington stumbled back out covered in blood and clutching his shoulder.

Gwinnett County police said Hickson stabbed Shawn Washington several times on December 21 at his apartment in the 3400 block of Sweetwater Road in Duluth, Georgia, including in the chest. Shawn Washington died on Christmas Day at Gwinnett Medical Center.

Investigation and arrest

Adrienne Hickson was arrested by Gwinnett County police on Christmas Day. At the time of her arrest, she was charged with murder and aggravated assault. She was being held without bond at Gwinnett County Detention Center.

Police said Hickson stabbed Shawn Washington several times on December 21 at his apartment in the 3400 block of Sweetwater Road in Duluth, Ga. Cpl. Darren Moloney, a spokesman for the Gwinnett County Police Department, said Hickson learned Shawn Washington had died and then was arrested. Police issued an arrest warrant for Hickson for aggravated assault the day of the stabbing, and Cpl. Moloney said she was not found until Christmas Day, when she went to the hospital.

According to a police report, Hickson “passed out” upon learning of Shawn Washington’s death and was put in a wheelchair in a “quiet room” by hospital staff after “causing a scene in the emergency room” and running into a glass door. The report also stated that she dressed herself in hospital scrubs to disguise herself as an employee.

Hickson gave police an Aiken address when arrested. She was of the 200 block of Magnolia Lake Road, and she was also described as being of Aiken, S.C.

Trial

In June 2007, Hickson was in a courtroom as a defendant. Her defense claimed she was a battered woman. The prosecutor said that Hickson was the one with a history of violence. The jury deadlocked, and Hickson took an Alford plea, which meant she accepted punishment without admitting guilt.

Sentencing

Hickson was sentenced to five years in prison in June 2007.

Appeals

No appeals were described.

Outcome

Hickson was released in 2010.

Other details

Isaac Washington said: “She just started acting crazy, trying to bite him and stuff for no reason.” Shawn Washington had driven a bread truck for the Flowers Baking Company in Lilburn. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church, where he served on the Usher Board.

Monique Doss of Lawrenceville told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that she and her boyfriend were sitting outside in a car when it happened. Doss said Shawn Washington had gone to tell the girlfriend she needed to gather her things and leave. Doss said he returned after about 10 minutes, bleeding and with a blank look on his face. She said he kept saying, “I’m gone, I’m gone,” as they drove to the hospital, and that he said the girlfriend had stabbed him.

Shawn Washington’s late grandfather was Woodroe Washington. Survivors included his mother, Karien Sewell; father, Isaac (Patricia) Washington; sisters, Chiara Beck and Chekilla Miller; brother, Isaac T. Washington; grandparents, Florence Sewell and Eddie Mae Washington; aunts, Bettye Moss, Gwendolyn (Melvin) Ruffin, Darlene (Sylvester) Ware, Elizabeth Ray, Henrietta Hines, Maryann Washington, Annie Lee Washington; and uncles, Chestley Sewell, Gregory Sewell, Dale Sewell, Monroe Washington, Johnnie Washington, Charles Stevens and Henry Stevens.

Funeral services were described as being Monday and were stated as being at Taylor Funeral Home for Shawn Washington. Burial was stated as being at Forest Hills Cemetery, and funeral services were also described as being at noon in the chapel with Pastor Steve Underwood officiating. Central High School was also referenced, including that Shawn Washington was described as a Central High School graduate.

Hickson was also described as being a 24-year-old Aiken woman on a murder charge. Howard University officials confirmed her status as a student.

Isaac Washington said he hadn’t spoken with her family but said his family was “hurting.”

Hickson had returned from her studies at Howard University in Washington, D.C., to Atlanta to visit Shawn, and she had gone back on Christmas night to visit him in the hospital but discovered he was dead.