DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The DeKalb District Attorney’s Office says Kirwin Hinds was working for a private parking company when he arrived at a DeKalb apartment complex in July 2025 about taking a boot off a car.
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He was wearing a bodycam in compliance with his company’s policy, and it wound up capturing evidence about his own murder.
Otis Blakes was before Judge Shondeana Morris for sentencing Tuesday. He was found guilty on Sept. 25 of malice murder and more.
“On count one, malice murder, I’m going to sentence you to life, with the possibility of parole,” Morris said.
“You take an honest job, just wanting to come home to your family and provide for your family,” said Shermain, Hinds sister. “And that’s Kirwin.”
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Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne spoke to Hinds’ sister and two women she said are longtime family friends.
“Kirwin the best big brother you have. He taught us all how to ride our bikes, how to swim. He’s the best husband. He’s a girl dad. He literally would do the tea party that they wanted,” Shermain said.
“If you met him today, he would be your best friend by noon because he was just that type of person. If he went to his memorial, the room was completely packed plus another hundred online,” said Star, a family friend.
The district attorney’s office says the bodycam shows an argument with Christopher Blakes, whose vehicle had the boot on it. There was a struggle, and Otis Blakes, Christopher Blakes’ brother shot Hinds, who was unarmed, three times, twice in the head, killing him.
The DA’s office says Christopher Blakes failed to appear in December for a hearing on two misdemeanor charges he faces in the case.
Morris issued a bench warrant for him, and as of his brother’s sentencing, Christopher Blakes had yet to answer for the charges against him.
Winne’s understanding is Morris’ sentence today of life with the possibility of parole plus five years was very close to, but slightly tougher than, what the prosecution and defense advocated.
Channel 2 Action News has done several stories about police bodycams, but Winne says he doesn’t recall one about this kind of bodycam video in a murder case.
Otis Blakes’ defense lawyer to say today her client is 34 years old, honorably discharged from the Marines in 2016, with no criminal history.
The prosecutor said at the seven-minute mark you can hear Otis Blakes say, “Please forgive me,” and thus the state believes Otis Blakes is remorseful.
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