News and Tribune

Police & Fire News

Related Photos

  • Julius Hamilton is comforted by a friend after learning his brother Paris Hamilton, 25, had been fatally shot Tuesday morning at the French Quarter Apartments in Jeffersonville. Staff photo by C.E. Branham

    11-14 French Quarter 1 wb.jpg

  • Jeffersonville Police are investigating a fatal shooting that happened at French Quarter Apartments Tuesday morning. Staff photo by C.E. Branham

    11-14 French Quarter 2 wb.jpg

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
November 13, 2012

Jeffersonville Police make arrest in murder at French Quarter Apartments

Brother of Paris Hamilton, 25, says he spoke with victim shortly before he was murdered

By BRADEN LAMMERS braden.lammers@newsandtribune.com

JEFFERSONVILLE — JEFFERSONVILLE — A 25-year-old man was shot to death Tuesday morning at the French Quarter Apartments off Middle Road in Jeffersonville.Police made an arrest in the shooting later Tuesday.

Jeffersonville Police Department officials confirmed the identity of the victim as Paris Hamilton later in the day Tuesday. Julius Hamilton, who was at the apartment complex shortly after the shooting took place, identified the victim as his brother.

A distraught Julius Hamilton said he talked to his brother about 30 minutes before the shooting took place.

“I just hope they catch the guy,” he said.

Tuesday afternoon police had also made an arrest in the case, but were not releasing the individual’s name. Newsgathering partner WLKY-TV identified the man arrested for the alleged shooting as 28-year-old Antonio Walker.

JPD Detective Todd Hollis said police responded to multiple calls of gunshots being fired at 11:23 a.m. at 1701 French Quarter Apartments.

“Our officers responded to the scene and found a black male, 25 years old, deceased...he was dead from apparent gunfire,” he said.

Hollis added police have interviewed several witnesses and confirmed there were multiple people in the apartment.

“We are interviewing several subjects that were either at the apartment or nearby when this happened....we have witness accounts that there were multiple people seen leaving the area,” he said. “Whether those were witnesses or suspects is what we’re determining now.”

As of late Tuesday evening, police said they were still investigating whether or not more than one individual may have been involved in the shooting.

Paris Hamilton did not live at the apartment complex and was believed to have been visiting someone that lived at one of the apartments.

“We believe...there may have been some relationship, but what that relationship might be, we do not know,” Hollis said. “We don’t feel like this is a random act.”

Family members said the victim was on house arrest and may have been wearing a monitoring bracelet at the time of the shooting. Police could not confirm that the victim was or was not on house arrest.

However, according to Clark County Court records online, Paris Hamilton had been arrested multiple times for robbery, battery and most recently — in July — dealing in cocaine or a controlled substance. Various addresses are listed on the court records, including addresses in Memphis, Ind., and Jeffersonville.

Shortly after the shooting took place, Jeffersonville High School and Sacred Heart Catholic School were placed on lock-down.

Hollis said the police notified the nearby schools as part of “standard procedure” when there is a shooting nearby.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Police & Fire News