The consequences from HBO’s Storm Over Brooklyn documentary highlighting the 1989 murder of Yusef Hawkins have crept their way into New York radio station Hot 97.
On Sunday (August 23), the 31st anniversary of Hawkins’ murder, the station announced in a statement they’d fired longtime executive Paddy Duke for his involvement in his death.
“After watching HBO’s Storm over Brooklyn, HOT97 was shocked and took swift action,” the statement read. “Paddy Duke is no longer employed by HOT97. The march for social justice continues.”
Duke, real name Pasquale Raucci, was among a mob of White men who crowded Hawkins and three other Black teens and attacked them in Bensonhurst, a predominantly Italian-American section of Brooklyn. The mob thought they were part of a different group of Black teens headed to a party at the home of a local girl the mob believed had begun dating a Black man.
The 16-year-old Hawkins was considered a leader amongst his peers and had dreams of possibly becoming an engineer. In the Storm Over Brooklyn documentary, friend Christopher Graham remembered Hawkins fondly as someone who was hard to guard on the basketball court considering he was left-handed.
Hawkins and company were in Bensonhurst inquiring about a used 1982 Pontiac advertised in the newspaper for $900. Soon, Hawkins and his three associates were being followed by a group of 10 White men that soon swelled to 30 men. Some held bats and begun yelling racial slurs at the group, “Let’s club the n*ggers!”
Soon, gunshots rang out. Hawkins was shot twice in the chest and later died at the hospital. Five members of the mob were arrested in connection with Hawkins’ murder, including Duke. Although he was found not guilty of manslaughter or second-degree murder, Duke was convicted on eight lesser counts and sentenced to three years probation and a $200 fine.
Duke’s ousting from the station has raised questions concerning the station’s hiring of Duke as well as whether knowledge of his prior crimes had been known by execs who’d given him a job. According to his LinkedIn profile, he’d served as the producer of Angie Martinez’s show and was an on-air DJ at the station from 1994 until 2003 before he became the commercial production director.
See reactions to Duke’s firing as well as the discovery of his involvement in Hawkins’ murder below.
Yea keep letting these culture vultures in..
Given how history is constantly being re-written and a lot of these “racially motivated” incidents are all bullshit, I’d wait to hear real facts. It sounds like a bunch of shit to me that a mob of thirty white men went after some black dudes for no reason. Yes, this guy was also painted as an innocent victim just waiting to become an engineer. Ok. Wait and see. Since so much time has passed anyone can make up their own fairytale here. Just look at incidents like George Floyd and that other criminal that fell asleep in a drive thru. Those are recent examples of how black thugs are made into saints by the media. Sad that nobody waits for facts and evidence these days.
what do you mean “wait for the facts?” Good you sound. The facts are in the fucking trial for the kids murder. Bruh seriously, you sound fucking stupid
You sound mad. Guess you weren’t loved enough as a child?
You’re a racist and I would tell your coward ass to your face
You know, we reserve the right to whoop your cracka (or confused negro) ass, right?
I remember all that happening. I didn’t know old boy changed his name. Court records is facts
The documentary, the trial… the Facts have already been presented and are available for review. It’s not hard to come to the conclusion this young was murdered. Maybe if you were hogtied and slapped, Your ability to comprehend would kick in.
Unbelievable……… dude has been there for over 20 years?!?!?!? And no one ever thought to look into his background?!?!?!!!?
99.9% hip-hop/rap music isn’t controlled by blacks so this isn’t shocking. The people who control the “culture” don’t like black people
( ( ( The people who control the culture ) ) )
Facts. It’s why it’s went to shit the last 15 years especially as all of the truly independent bosses were run out of the game.
Not taking his side but, are you legally allowed to be fired for something that happened that long ago and had nothing to do with his employment? How could Hot97 be protected from a lawsuit if he decided to sue?
Unfortunately in New York and most states we are employees at will. They can terminate employment without reason anytime.
Right to work state
No. Felons are a protected class under the 1964 civil rights act. The only way you could fire him is if he lied about his status
Black people are some of the most inviting and accepting people on this planet, contrary to popular belief. No other culture just fucks with anybody without checking their receipts. Let a nigga nobody seen before show up to a predominately white church, but us? Dylan Roof can come right in smh. All of our culture gets stolen, for centuries, and we still can’t get our shit together, it’s sad…
so damn sad. i hope this devil gets his due in hell
That’s what TF we get handing out cookout invites all willy nilly…smh
Who would’ve deserved it, like you and your family deserve it.
16 is too young. kind of reminds me of myself at that age… lucky to be alive.
stfu cac
This comment needs to be deleted
Please delete the racist comments. Vulgar, offensive, threatening & inappropriate.
they said he was acquitted right? how can you be fired for something that happened years ago that you were acquitted for? sounds like a lawsuit is in the works on this one. so many people acting like just because his name was brought up in it that he pulled the trigger. now if this was yall’s brother yall would be going nuts saying he was acquitted, let that man live his life, thats not fair, etc. but because its a stranger its ok. this country is lost its damn mind
He was found guilty of rioting and false imprisonment along with numerous other offenses against Yousef Hawkins. He was not an innocent man.