The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Tyrone Moody of Wilmington.
Also, shot in that incident were 39 year old Crystal Moody and 15 year old Christopher Moody both of Wilmington. Both victims are listed in stable condition and are expected to recover from their injuries.
On Friday, October 23, 2009, at approximately 9:00 PM, Wilmington Police were called to the 1500 block of West 4th Street for shots fired.
When officers arrived, they were informed that an individual was inside the home armed and possibly shooting the residents. Officers immediately sealed the area off and a Wilmington Police SWAT Team along with a Wilmington Police Hostage Negotiating Team was dispatched.
The armed man would be later identified as 38-year-old Parris Hamilton.
Wilmington Police called Hamilton's mother to try and get her son to come out, but her muffled pleas from a police van failed to bring him out.
That is when a neighbor, Michelle Spencer, stepped in. She heard Hamilton's frantic mother call to her son so she, a mother herself, decided to try and assist the police. She called out to Hamilton, a stranger to Michelle, by his first name.
"I said 'I don't know you from a can of paint, but I feel compelled to sit here and talk to you,'" Melissa Spencer said.
Spencer told Action News in an exclusive interview that she believes Hamilton was planning on killing himself last night, but her words helped change his mind.
"He kept sitting down on the ledge talking back with me," Spencer said.
After four hours, at approximately 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Hamilton exited the residence and dropped his handgun. Hamilton was then taken into custody without further incident.
According to police, Parris Hamilton was an ex-boyfriend of a 39-year-old female who resided at that residence. Sometime earlier that evening, Hamilton had gotten into the residence and became involved in a domestic argument with the woman.
"The dispute was with the female, but he appeared to be targeting everyone who was in the house," Chief Michael Szczerba of the Wilmington Police said. During the argument, Hamilton pulled out a handgun and began shooting the female and her two sons, ages 15 and 21. All three individuals were shot multiple times.
The woman and her 15-year-old son were taken to the Christiana Hospital where they were treated for multiple gunshot wounds. They are currently listed in stable condition.
The third victim, later identified as 21-year-old Tyrone Moody, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators suspect Hamilton may have also been gunning for his girlfriends' 40-year-old male acquaintance who was said to be hiding upstairs while SWAT teams surrounded the house. That individual sustained no injuries.
As for Michelle Spencer, she told Action News though Hamilton was holding a gun, she didn't fear for her life.
"Honestely, I didn't. I was more fearful for him than for my own self," Spencer said.
Parris Hamilton was charged with first degree murder, attempted murder, burglary, and possession of a firearm.
