Teen used ladder to see girls at home in Louisiana before she fatally shot her father, police say
Police said a teenager who climbed a ladder into a Louisiana house to see a girl fatally shot her father shortly after confronting him Sunday morning.
Authorities in Zachary, a small town about 20 miles north of Baton Rouge, are trying to find out what led to an exchange of fire between the 17-year-old suspect and 34-year-old Dezmon Jerome Hamilton, Zachary police chief David McDavid said.
Hamilton, a well-known local businessman, died on the spot in his living room and the teenager was injured after gunfire was fired, McDavid said.
McDavid told NBC News Thursday that about 25 minutes after Hamilton caught the boy who was hiding in a closet, the teenager he did not name and Hamilton shot each other and brought him downstairs to talk to him speak. The teenager was there to see Hamilton’s 14-year-old daughter, McDavid said.
Hamilton was drawn to the boy in his house by a neighbor who saw the teenager “walk in the window,” McDavid said.
The boy stayed in the hospital on Thursday afternoon. After his release, McDavid said he would be arrested and charged with second degree murder, the illegal use of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm. He is expected to be tried in a juvenile court, McDavid said.
The bloodshed happened near three potential witnesses, though McDavid wasn’t sure what they saw or heard, he said. They were Hamilton’s daughter, the girl’s mother, and the girl’s grandmother. Hamilton called her home, McDavid said.
“It’s a tragic loss,” said McDavid. “We lost a good man who was an aspiring entrepreneur trying to make this community a better place.”
McDavid, who has worked for the city police force for more than three decades, said he had known Hamilton and his mother long and even coached him in a church basketball league.
Relatives of the alleged teenager could not be reached on Thursday. It was unclear whether he had a lawyer. Hamilton’s family did not respond to requests for comment either.
Hamilton’s obituary states that he was a lifelong resident of Zachary, the supervisor at Exxon Lubrication-Port Allen, a member of a Baptist church, and the owner of an upcoming business called Sweet Corner. He was also the father of four children, according to the obituary.
McDavid said Hamilton recently bought property near his home and was planning to open a booth selling shaved or crushed ice, commonly known as snowballs, and a car wash.
Investigations into the exact circumstances of the shooting are ongoing. Hamilton was shot in the upper body at least once. Both Hamilton and the teenager shot each other with different guns, McDavid said, noting that Hamilton had guns in his home.
“Based on what we saw from the information and evidence, we suspect the teen was shot first,” said McDavid.
He also said Hamilton’s daughter allegedly let the boy into the house through a window on the second floor.
Investigators couldn’t speak to the suspect, McDavid said, as he had had an operation and was passed out after the shooting.
Comments are closed.