The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Hamilton Police Division
are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred late Thursday evening.
Hamilton police received a 911 call from a female residing on Genesee Street stating that she just shot an intruder inside of her home last night at approximately 11:23 p.m. She then stated that she accidently shot her friend.
Officers arrived and located the victim, 50-year-old Kelvin Watford of Willingboro, lying at the bottom of stairs with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. Watford was pronounced dead at the scene.
Although the investigation is still in the early stage, preliminary indications are that the homicide was accidental.
The resident was on the phone with Watford, who said he was returning from a trip and was not in the immediate area. Investigators believe Watford was attempting to surprise his friend.
As she continued to talk to Watford on the phone, she heard a dog barking and noises outside of her house. The noises outside of her house continued and she retrieved her gun. She heard someone inside of her house and walked to her bedroom door, still on the phone. She then opened her bedroom door, observed the shadow of a person in the dark on the stairs, and fired one gunshot.
No charges have been filed at this time and the incident remains under investigation.