KINGSTON, N.Y. — The Pine Bush man accused of gunning down Michael Hawkins on Vinegar Hill Road threatened to kill Hawkins and himself 10 days earlier in a text message to his ex-girlfriend, a prosecutor said on Thursday.
Walter Post Jr., 26, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder Thursday in Ulster County Court for Hawkins’ Jan. 11 shooting death.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji said that 10 days before the killing, on Jan. 1, Post sent a threatening text message to his ex-girlfriend warning that he planned to kill her new boyfriend and himself.
“If I find out who you are going with, I am going to kill him and I’m going to kill myself,” Nneji said the text message read.
Authorities said that Post stalked the woman’s house and, while Hawkins was inside, tampered with his vehicle. Hawkins, 29, of Woodridge, left the woman’s Shawangunk home at about 1 p.m. but stopped a short distance away on Vinegar Hill Road in Pine Bush.
The District Attorney’s Office said that when Hankins got out of his vehicle, Post shot him several times at close range. Hawkins’ body was found on the side of the road across from his car.
Authorities said later that day Post allegedly told his mother he had killed someone. Authorities said that Post saw police activity around his 190 DuBois St. residence, he surrendered and was taken into custody by state police.
In urging Ulster County Judge Bryan Rounds to keep Post in jail without bail, Nneji noted that Post had threatened to commit suicide.
“Returning to court by certificate of death is now what the law anticipates,” Nneji said.
He said another reason to keep Post in jail is the possibility that Post would abscond in order to avoid a lengthy jail sentence if convicted.
Post faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life if found guilty of second-degree murder.
In sending Post back to jail without bail, Rounds said he found it to be the “least restrictive means” available to ensure Post returns to court.
