Suspect admits to firing shots at Jeffersonville murder victim

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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 14, 2012

Suspect admits to firing shots at Jeffersonville murder victim

Prosecutor to issue murder charge in Clark County court today

By GARY POPP gary.popp@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Wed Nov 14, 2012, 09:24 PM EST

JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeffersonville Police say the person they believe is responsible for fatally shooting a man at an apartment complex on Tuesday admitted to detectives he is responsible for the crime.

Antonio D. Walker, 28, of Louisville, appeared in a Clark County court Wednesday. He has been accused by police of fatally firing five shots at 25-year-old Paris T. Hamilton during an argument.

Walker will be formally charged with murder today, Clark County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said.

Walker was ordered Wednesday to return to Judge Vicki Carmichael’s Clark County Circuit Court No. 4 for an initial hearing at 1:30 p.m. today.

He is currently being held in the Michael L. Becher Adult Correctional Complex on no bond.

Police believe Walker is the sole gunman who shot Hamilton five times inside a residence at the French Quarter Apartments off Middle Road, Jeffersonville Police Detective Todd Hollis said.

Police received a call of shots fired at the residence, located in the 1700 block of Village Green Boulevard, around 11:20 a.m. Hollis said the shooting occurred in the home of a woman who is an acquaintance of both Hamilton and Walker, but that neither Hamilton or Walker is believed to keep a residence at the apartment complex. Hollis said Walker advised detectives on Tuesday that he lives in Louisville.

According to a probable cause affidavit, when police arrived at the scene of Tuesday’s shooting, “Officers observed that Hamilton had suffered several gunshot wounds to the chest/stomach area.”

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Clark County Coroner Edwin “Huck” Coots.

The probable cause affidavit also states two men were seen running from the area of the shooting through a field behind Indiana American Water Company.

Walker was located walking nearby along Cardinal Lane by a JPD patrol officer about 10 minutes after the shooting, Hollis said.

The man was identified as a suspect in the shooting by the patrol officer as he matched the description of one of the men reported being seen fleeing the French Quarter Apartments moments earlier.

“This subject (Walker) was on a cellular telephone and appeared to be nervous and sweating,” according to the affidavit.

The man was detained and later identified as Walker.

He was taken to Jeffersonville police headquarters for questioning.

During the interrogation, “Walker admitted to being present at the crime scene and admitted to engaging in an altercation with Hamilton at the apartment,” according to the affidavit. “Walker admitted to having a revolver handgun on his person and firing five shots at Hamilton.”

Hollis said investigators are continuing to question witnesses and charges could be issued against other people associated with the crime, adding that Walker is believed to be the only gunman.

“We are confident he (Walker) was the shooter,” Hollis said.