Suspect charged with murder in Jeffersonville shooting

Clark County

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Antonio Walker is led to Clark County Circuit Court 4 Wednesday afternoon. Walker is suspected of killing Paris Hamilton on Tuesday at the French Quarter Apartments in Jeffersonville. Staff photo by C.E. Branham

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November 15, 2012

Suspect charged with murder in Jeffersonville shooting

Victim’s sister speaks out outside courtroom

By GARY POPP gary.popp@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Thu Nov 15, 2012, 05:42 PM EST

JEFFERSONVILLE — A Louisville man was charged with murder in a Clark County court Thursday following a fatal shooting at French Quarter Apartments off of Middle Road in Jeffersonville earlier this week.

Antonio D. Walker, 28, is believed to have been the shooter that gunned down Paris T. Hamilton, 25, on Tuesday morning.

Walker appeared in Circuit Court No. 4 for his initial hearing as presiding Judge Vicki Carmichael advised him that he could face up to 65 years in prison if convicted of Hamilton’s death. Walker told Carmichael he intends on hiring his own representation for future court proceedings. A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf, as is standard procedure.

Following a request made by Clark County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeremy Mull, Carmichael agreed to provide Walker no bond.

A small group of Hamilton’s loved ones huddled outside the courtroom before and after the hearing. Several of his supporters, including his sister, Erica Hamilton, wore white T-shirts adorned with Paris Hamilton’s picture and the message R.I.P. Paris Hamilton.

Hamilton’s sister tearfully wailed in grief as Walker was being ushered to the courtroom.

“He was my best friend,” Erica Hamilton said of her slain brother. “He was my everything.”

She said his death was senseless and unnecessary.

“Nobody deserves to lose their life. My brother had a good life,” she said. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Erica Hamilton said that she has heard conflicting stories of what occurred moments before her brother was killed.

“I heard my brother was being called a snitch, and that is why they shot him,” Erica Hamilton said.

Jeffersonville police arrived to the French Quarter Apartments’ unit where the shooting took place about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday on a call of shots fired. Hamilton was found with several gunshot wounds to his midsection, police reported. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have reported that neither Hamilton or Walker resided in the apartment complex, but that both men were acquaintances of the woman who lived in the home where the shooting took place.

A fight had taken place between the two men in the apartment the moments before shots were fired, police have said. A description of two men fleeing the apartment complex on foot after the shooting was provided to police in the area.

About 10 minutes after the shooting, police said, a JPD patrol officer spotted Hamilton walking on Cardinal Lane. Police reported that Walker was talking on a cellular phone and appeared to be nervous and sweating.

Walker was detained and taken to Jeffersonville Police Department headquarters for questioning, at which time he admitted firing five shot as Hamilton during an altercation in the home where he was found dead.

Police are continuing its investigation and have said that charges could be issued against other people associated with the crime. Investigators previously stated, however, that Walker is believed to be only gunman involved in Hamilton’s death.

Walker is scheduled Thursday to return to Clark County Circuit Court No. 4 for a pretrial hearing Jan. 14.