Schenectady

A city man who allegedly was set on fire by his stepson over the summer has died, Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney said.

Kevin Hawkins, 59, died Sunday night, Carney said. Hawkins' death comes days after his stepson, Andrell Leppanen, 29, was arraigned in County Court on one count of second-degree attempted murder and two counts of first-degree assault.

Leppanen, who remains in jail without bail, also faces misdemeanor arson and criminal mischief counts in connection with the crime.

Asked if those criminal charges would be upgraded in the future, Carney said Monday that will depend on the autopsy results. It was not immediately clear when authorities might get the results of an autopsy that was scheduled for Monday at Ellis Hospital.

"We'll have to see what the medical evidence shows," Carney said. If the autopsy results indicate Hawkins' death was caused by injuries from the fire, prosecutors could ask a grand jury to consider homicide charges.

Leppanen is accused of burning Hawkins Aug. 26 at their Bridge Street home.

Hawkins suffered burns over 40 percent of his body but managed to run to a neighbor's house for help after the attack.

Leppanen fled but was arrested by police two days later.

Affectionately known as "Uncle Kev," Hawkins owned Keys World, a store on Albany Street that sells clothing and other items.

Late Monday afternoon, several white glass candles, including one marked R.I.P., lined the outside window sill at the front of the store.

A man who identified himself as Hawkins' brother declined comment.

Prosecutor Christina Tremante-Pelham, who is handling the case, said prosecutors had not determined a motive for the alleged attack. As of Monday, a GoFundMe page set up by a woman named Michele had raised $800 for Hawkins and his family.

The information on the popular crowd-funding site says the Brooklyn-born Hawkins became a father in his 20s, later moving to upstate New York, where he sold incense and oil to support his family. He later opened his first business, Positive Expressions, on Jay Street in downtown Schenectady.

"With love and support from the community his store became a success," the biography states. Soon, he moved and opened a second shop called Shirts Galore. In 2003, he opened Keys World, currently located on Albany Street.

It goes on to say that he met his wife, Latonia, in 1989 and married her in 2000, and they had a daughter. Both had a child from previous relationships, according to the GoFundMe page.

It mentions that Hawkins attended Narcotics Anonymous meetings and that the family, including "his stepson," had its struggles, such as the time Leppanen was found wandering in the cold and attacked an innocent person.

"That is when the family knew it was time to make adjustments to their life and get him as much help as they could," the information online states. "Within the last 2 years, they have been struggling getting their son back to himself again."

The page recounts that fateful Friday morning on Aug. 26 when Leppanen allegedly attacked Hawkins.

"Andrell then tossed the gas on Kevin and suddenly and horrifically set him on fire, then walking out of the house slowly like nothing ever happened," the writer states.

"Kevin tried to run out of the home and remove his burning clothing at the same time." He managed to get to a next-door neighbor, who called 911. Hawkins was flown by helicopter to the burn unit of Westchester Medical Center.

Michele, the writer, said the donations will help Hawkins' family with his bills from the hospital and his business as well as the mortgage.

"Good people like Kevin Hawkins deserve to know mercy and love," states the GoFundMe page.

pnelson@timesunion.com • 518-454-5347 • @apaulnelson