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Florida Man Charged For Opening Fire On Officers, Killing Sheriff's Deputy On Christmas Eve
Timothy Paul Price-Williams, 43, opened fire on a group of officers attempting to arrest him for domestic battery on Christmas Eve, fatally striking Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy Ray Hamilton.
A Florida sheriff's corporal was shot dead on Christmas Eve when a man he was attempting to arrest on a warrant for domestic battery opened fire on responding officers.
Timothy Paul Price-Williams of Fort Walton Beach, 43, was charged with first-degree premeditated murder after fatally shooting Okaloosa Sheriff's Corporal Ray Hamilton in the forehead after refusing to exit his home peacefully.
An unidentified woman requested a restraining order against Price-Williams for an altercation that took place the night before.
"The victim reported Saturday morning that Price-Williams had slapped her in the face and shoved her during an argument the night before, taking away her phone so she could not call 9-1-1 for help," the department wrote in a press release.
Officers obtained a warrant and arrived at the home on 710 N Park Boulevard around 9:00 a.m. When Price-Williams refused to come outside, the department's Special Response Team was called.
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"The OSCO Special Response Team was summon to try to negotiate with Price Williams to give himself up peacefully," the department wrote in their press release. "Several deputies, including Corporal Ray Hamilton, entered an area behind the backyard fence on the premises to help establish a safe perimeter."
Price-Williams refused to negotiate, and at 12:40 a.m., he shot a flurry of bullets out of a window in his home, striking Hamilton. The officer was rushed to HCA Fort Walton Beach - Destin Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 3 p.m.
Deputies eventually shot and subdued Price-Williams after exiting his residence in an "aggressive manner," according to a police report obtained by ABC affiliate WEAR-TV.
After he was treated for the bullet wound to the arm, Price-Williams was booked at Okaloosa County Jail and denied bail. He was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, obstruction of justice and second-degree battery, according to the Okaloosa County Jail website. A date has not been set for a future hearing.
“We are devastated by the grief of losing Corporal Hamilton, a deputy who was a ray of sunshine in the OCSO, dedicated to protecting others,” Sheriff Eric Aden said in a statement. “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.”
Aden said in a press conference that Hamilton's death took place a week before his wedding anniversary, which will now be the date of his celebration of life, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
