Okaloosa County Sheriffs are mourning the death of a deputy after he was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence complaint on Christmas Eve.
Officer Ray Hamilton, a five-year veteran of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s department, was fatally injured by Timothy Price-Williams, 43, after Prince-Williams opened fire on the deputy at the shooter’s Wright, Florida home.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the deputies responded to the North Park Blvd townhome to present Price-Williams with a warrant of arrest against him for a domestic violence battery charge.
An abuse victim had reported that Price-Williams shoved and slapped her during an argument on Friday. She also alleged that the accused took her phone so she couldn’t call 911.
At around 9 am on Saturday, deputies arrived at Price-Williams’ house and made contact with him. However, he refused to leave his home, prompting a Special Response Team to be called to the scene.
The team responded and found Williams barricaded in his townhouse. While the negotiation was going on, Williams fired several shots through the window. Officer Hamilton was hit during the gunfire, according to the County Sheriff’s Office. Officer Hamilton was rushed to Destin Hospital in Fort Walton Beach. Unfortunately, he did not make it. He died from the gunshot wounds at around 3 pm.
The suspect refused to leave his house, and when he eventually did, he was shot by an officer, striking his right arm. He received treatment for his injury and was transported to jail, where he is facing first-degree premeditated murder for the death of Officer Hamilton.
In a statement on Facebook, Eric Aden, Okaloosa County Sheriff, said that losing Officer Hamilton was devastating. He referred to him as a “ray of sunshine who was dedicated to his duty and protecting others.”
The death of Officer Hamilton brings the total number of officers killed by gunfire in 2022 to 61.
