The Columbus community is mourning the tragic loss of Hernandez Hubbard II, a 21-year-old father and aspiring artist, who was killed in a drive-by shooting on Stoneway Drive in north Columbus, off Warm Springs Road, early Tuesday morning, July 22, 2025.
According to the Columbus Police Department and family statements, the incident occurred around 5:40 a.m. when the Hubbard family was asleep in their home on the 6100 block of Stoneway Drive. Hernandez Hubbard, the victim’s father, reported that approximately 25 to 30 gunshots were fired into their residence. Hernandez Hubbard II, who was asleep in his bedroom, sat up upon hearing the gunfire and was struck in the head by a single bullet.
“My son was asleep,” his father said in an emotional interview. “Some individuals came by and started shooting, and one bullet hit my son in the head.”
Emergency responders rushed Hernandez II to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital before he was transferred to Grady Hospital in Atlanta for advanced care. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at 2:59 p.m. on July 22, 2025, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan.
The Hubbard family is devastated by the loss, grappling with grief and fear as the perpetrators remain at large. “If people can do that and get away with it, no one is safe in this city,” Hernandez Hubbard said, expressing frustration over the lack of immediate arrests and concern for community safety.
Hernandez II was a dedicated father to his young son and worked a full-time job to provide for him. In his spare time, he pursued his passion for music, creating rap songs that his father believes may have provoked the attack. “I think the style of lyrics he was rapping about may have had something to do with this,” his father noted, while emphasizing, “No song or lyrics were worth my son losing his life.”
He directed a powerful message to the perpetrators: “I just want them to know they are cowards. To stand and shoot that many shots at somebody’s house—nobody is safe.”
Neighbors in the quiet north Columbus community expressed shock at the violence. One resident told local media, “I never imagined a drive-by shooting happening so close to home,” noting they were unaware of the gunfire until police canvassed the area around 7 a.m.
The Columbus Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit is leading the investigation and seeking public assistance. Detectives are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who was in the area of Warm Springs Road near Schomburg Road between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on July 22, 2025, or who may have information relevant to the case. No suspects have been identified, and the motive remains under investigation.
As the Hubbard family grieves the loss of a beloved son, father, and artist, the Columbus community rallies in support, calling for justice and an end to senseless gun violence.