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WILKES-BARRE — A Hazleton man accused of stabbing another man in the chest is expected to be tried on homicide charges in February, a judge ordered Monday.

Gene Anthony Hawkins, 47, is charged in the 2015 killing of Lashaun Overton, 34, of Brooklyn, New York, who police said had lived in the same Hazleton apartment complex as Hawkins.

At a hearing in Luzerne County Court, Judge Tina Polachek Gartley set a Feb. 5 trial date to allow the defense’s investigator additional time with the case. That will also give prosecutors more time to provide the defense with phone records and other outstanding discovery.

An unresponsive Overton was found bleeding in a parking lot at 1000 Grant St. in Hazleton with blood under his body and two knives nearby, one of them covered in blood, police said.

A witness told police Overton and Hawkins were arguing, and Overton had a knife at one point but did not threaten Hawkins with it, court papers state. The witness said Hawkins retreated to his apartment and, with a knife in hand, confronted Overton.

Hawkins then allegedly pushed away a bystander and lunged at Overton with the knife, stabbing him in the chest. As Hawkins fled, Overton fired several shots at him, but none of the shots struck Hawkins, according to court papers.

Hawkins remains jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

Gene Hawkins is led by Hazleton Police Det. Joseph Labert, left, and Detective Cpl. David Rodick, followed by Luzerne County Det. Chaz Balogh, to his arraignment on a homicide charge.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Hazleton_1_crop_toned-1.jpg.optimal.jpgGene Hawkins is led by Hazleton Police Det. Joseph Labert, left, and Detective Cpl. David Rodick, followed by Luzerne County Det. Chaz Balogh, to his arraignment on a homicide charge.

By Joe Dolinsky

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Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL