Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputy killed while responding to domestic violence incident on Christmas Eve
Instead of celebrating Christmas, the family of an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy spent the weekend mourning the loss of their loved one, who was fatally shot in the line of duty.
Five-year Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office veteran Corporal Ray Hamilton, a member of the OCSO Special Response Team, was fatally shot on Christmas Eve while responding to a report of a domestic violence battery.
Authorities said the victim reported she was physically attacked by 43-year-old Timothy Price-Williams. When deputies arrived at the location in Fort Walton Beach to serve Price-Williams an arrest warrant for domestic violence charges, he refused to surrender and remained inside the home. Just as Deputy Hamilton was setting up a perimeter around the house, the suspect fired shots from inside the residence, hitting the deputy.
Hamilton was immediately transported to a hospital, where he was later declared dead. The suspect remained inside the home for a while after the deputy was shot. When Price-Williams eventually came out of the home, authorities said he behaved in a way that prompted another deputy to open fire, inflicting a wound to his arm.
Price-Williams was transported to jail after receiving treatment at a hospital.
“We are devastated by the grief of losing Corporal Hamilton, a deputy who was a ray of sunshine in the OCSO and dedicated to protecting others. We appreciate the endless stream of words of support that have come in for his family and his co-workers as we face this heartbreaking loss of a profoundly loved and respected friend, public servant, and hero,” said Sheriff Eric Aden.
