SUSPICION OF HOME BREAK-IN LEADS TO TEEN’S MURDER

Victim ID’s Shooter on Death Bed

Atlanta- A Fulton County jury has returned a guilty verdict in the murder case against Carlos Donta Hamilton, 30. Hamilton was charged with Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault and weapons charges for the 2008 shooting death of 17-year old Dwytree Parrish.

On June 21, 2008, an off-duty Morris Brown College police officer was driving in the 800 block of Dill Avenue in Atlanta when he heard a shot coming from a nearby crowd. As he approached in uniform, the crowd quickly dispersed leaving the victim at the scene to suffer from a gunshot wound to the stomach. The officer called 911 to dispatch emergency help to the scene. As the victim was headed into the operating room, he told investigators that a man, later identified as the defendant, approached him and a friend and proclaimed, ‘You broke in my sister’s house,’ then shot him. The victim later died from his injuries. In the days following the shooting, an eyewitness who was with the victim but fled in fear, came forward to police and described the incident in full detail. Defendant Hamilton, whose sister was dating the eyewitness, believed the victim and witness had broken into the sister’s home and stolen money. Hamilton was arrested following statements to police and positive photographic line-ups. The defendant told conflicting accounts of his involvement in the shooting claiming at one point that the gun accidentally discharged as he was pistol-whipping the victim.

Carlos Donta Hamilton was sentenced to life plus five years by presiding Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Linda Dunikoski led the prosecution with assistance from ADA Leif Howard and DA Investigator Michael Green. Detective J. Stephens of the Atlanta Police Department led the initial investigation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov