Incident
Corporal Ray Hamilton was shot and killed during a barricade at the 710 block of North Park Boulevard in Wright.
Deputies had responded to the apartment at about 9:00 am to investigate a domestic assault that had occurred the previous night. The suspect refused to exit the home, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team responded to the scene. The man fired out of a window at about 12:40 pm, striking Corporal Hamilton.
Corporal Hamilton was transported to Fort Walton Beach - Destin Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds several hours later.
The subject was charged with premeditated first-degree murder.
Corporal Hamilton had served with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office for five years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, brother, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-6176D317- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corporal Hamilton gave the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Shalimar community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Hamilton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal Ray Charles Hamilton is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Okaloosa County Sheriff's Dept., 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ray Charles Hamilton's cause is highlighted.
How Ray Charles Hamilton Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and wounded
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ray Charles Hamilton is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ray Charles Hamilton was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Okaloosa County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.






