On June 12, 2014, Detroit Police Officer Anna Hamilton Barton was shot and killed by her husband Damon Barton. At the time of her murder, Officer Hamilton was considering filing for divorce from her husband - who had a known violent past.
When Damon Barton murdered Officer Anna Hamilton Barton, he knew she wanted to end their marriage. He was on parole at the time he murdered his wife: first-degree home invasion, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with intent to commit murder, and felonious assault, in connection to the break-up of a pervious relationship in 1986.
Detroit police officer found dead in Redford Twp. murder-suicide
Detroit Free Press
June 12, 2014
A Detroit Police officer was among two people found dead in a Redford Township home late this morning in what police are classifying as a murder-suicide, Redford Police officials said.
Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 9900 block of Kinloch Street at 11:39 a.m. in Redford Township for a report of a possible homicide. Responding officers found two deceased subjects.
No suspects are actively being sought, police said.
One of the deceased has been identified as 50-year-old Anna Hamilton.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig did not identify the officer, but said she a 16-year veteran of the department and was “well loved and liked by her co-workers.”
Based on the information he has received, Craig said the incident appears to be domestic.
Craig said the officer works an overnight shift. He said other officers had spoken with her this morning and did not detect any problems.
Detroit Cop Killed in Suspected Murder Suicide With Husband
Deadline Detroit
June 12, 2014, 2:54 PM
A Detroit cop was found murdered in her Redford Township home Thursday in what appears to be a murder-suicide involving her husband.
Redford Township Police told Deadline Detroit that police were dispatched to the 9900 block of Kinloch Street around 11:40 a.m. where they found two bodies.
Police declined to release the names of the people.
But WDIV reported that family members at the scene identified the officer as Anna Hamilton, mother of three adult children, who was married for three years to Damon Barton. Hamilton worked the night shift.
Family members told WDIV that they believe Barton killed Hamilton before killing himself.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig said, according to WDIV:
"It appears that a Detroit police officer was murdered. Domestic situation it appears now. Being investigated by the state police and Redford Township. This has touched many, many in our DPD family."
Detroit police chief says officer found killed in Redford Township home
Family says husband killed police officer in apparent murder-suicide
Click On Detroit
Jun 12, 2014
REDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Detroit Police Chief James Craig says one of his officers has been murdered in her home.
Craig said the body of the veteran patrol officer was found Thursday in her home on Kinloch Street in Redford Township.
Craig said she had just returned home from her overnight shift.
"It appears that a Detroit police officer was murdered. Domestic situation it appears now. Being investigated by the state police and Redford Township," Craig said. "This has touched many, many in our DPD family."
Family members on the scene identified the victim to Local 4 as Anna Hamilton, adding that she has three adult children and had only been married to her husband, Damon Barton, for three years.
Family members on the scene described it as a murder-suicide, saying Barton killed Hamilton before killing himself.
Neighbors Local 4 spoke with said they didn't hear any sounds, but saw Redford Township police rush to the home with guns drawn.
"I saw several police cars. When they got out of their vehicles, they had their shotguns drawn," said neighbor Tom Ivan.
Detroit police chief says officer found killed in Redford Township home
Click On Detroit
Jun 12, 2014
Police: Detroit police officer found dead after apparent murder-suicide in Redford Twp.
MyFOXDetroit.com
Jun 12, 2014
Police: Detroit police officer found dead after apparent murder-suicide in Redford Twp.
MyFOXDetroit.com
Jun 12, 2014
REDFORD, Mich (WJBK) -- Family members hug one another as Redford police and state police detectives investigate an apparent murder-suicide on the 9900 block of Kinloch in Redford Township.
Office Anna Hamilton, a 16-year-veteran of the Detroit Police Department, was found shot and killed. Her husband Damon Barton was also dead by gunshot.
Both were found in their home Thursday around 11 a.m.
Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones immediately attended a grief counseling session at the northwest district where Hamilton was assigned.
"Something had happened with the husband, don't know exactly what the situation was, killed her and then killed himself," Jones says.
Neighbor Paul Cobb said the victim's family members described the same scenario.
"He had shot her and called his brother and basically said, 'I did it', and then shot himself afterwards, and I guess his brother came over, and I guess his brother was the one that called 911," says Cobb.
Redford police confirmed a family member arrived and called 911, but Redford authorities and the state police, for now, are not describing who shot whom.
Cobb says Hamilton was seeking a divorce.
"She was in the process of wanting to get a divorce and he was, obviously, not happy about it," he says. "Friends and family had actually given her money to get a divorce on Mother's Day. That was one of the gifts that they gave her."
Colleagues on the Detroit Police Department who worked with Hamilton are crushed with the news.
"Well, I can't comment on the situation and normally we're not necessarily supposed to comment, but this I can say because she was an outstanding woman, outstanding officer and she was a friend. She was a friend to all of us. She was a great hugger, great encourager, and the stuff we go through in this city, it's officers like that that make your job better," says Steve Kanakis of the Detroit Police Department.
The couple had two adult children. The family has declined to comment.
Hamilton served 16 years on the force. She is said to have currently been working as a patrol officer but had previously worked in the narcotics unit.
Neighbors, police in 'total shock' after Detroit officer killed in apparent murder-suicide
Redford Township — An off-duty veteran Detroit police officer who received a life-saving citation her first year on the job was killed by her husband Thursday morning in what police are calling a murder-suicide.
Redford Township police were called at 11:39 a.m. to the 9900 block of Kinloch, where officers forced their way inside and found the couple dead, police said.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig said the incident appeared to be a murder-suicide.
“This is tragic,” said Craig. “I’ve had a chance to talk with a number of her fellow officers, who all expressed tremendous sadness. She was well-respected by many. I looked at her personnel file, and she received a lifesaving citation her first year.
“One of the officers I spoke with referred to her as a mother figure. He said he spoke with her this morning, and that he didn’t detect any problems. He’s in total shock.”
Police and neighbors identified the officer as Anna Hamilton, a 17-year veteran, and said she had lived in the home for a few years.
On Thursday afternoon Redford police, Detroit police and Michigan State Police cars blocked off the streets surrounding the home as investigators worked inside. The front door was open and curtains blew outside an open side window.
Craig said Michigan State Police are investigating the incident.
As of Thursday evening police did not yet know what the circumstances were that led to the shooting, according to Detroit Police Spokesman Adam Madera.
Redford Detective Sgt. Kevin Crittenden said a family member called police, saying an incident had occurred at the house.
Neighbors said they didn’t hear any gunfire.
Tom Ivan and another neighbor, Paul Cobb, said Hamilton was a friendly person.
“She was a good person,” Cobb said. “This is a neighborhood where we would mow each other’s grass, shovel each other’s snow. We helped each other out all the time. She always believed in giving people a second chance.”
The officer, who joined the police force in 1998, spent time at the 6th Precinct and the Narcotics Section. She once talked a disturbed man out of killing his family, after he’d held them hostage and threatened to burn his house down.
“She was very committed to her job,” Craig said. “This is a tremendous loss to both the Detroit Police family and the citizens of Detroit.”
Death of police officer Anna Hamilton
Detroit Police Department Facebook
June 13, 2014
Death of police officer Anna Hamilton
Detroit Police Lieutenants & Sergeants Association Facebook
June 13, 2014
Detroit police officer, husband found dead in Redford Township identified
Detroit Free Press
June 13, 2014
A Detroit police officer, found dead in her Redford Township home Thursday, was killed and her husband committed suicide, according to the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Anna Hamilton-Barton, 50, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and her death was ruled a homicide, said Mary Mazur, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office. The woman’s 47-year-old husband, Damon Barton, died from a single gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled a suicide, Mazur said.
Hamilton-Barton was a Detroit police officer.
She and her husband were found dead in their home in the 9900 block of Kinloch. Redford Township police said they were dispatched to the home at about 11:39 a.m. on a report of a possible homicide. On Thursday, police said they were not seeking any suspects and said the investigation was ongoing.
Redford Township police declined to release additional information today.
The Detroit Police Department issued this statement today on its Facebook page:
“Today is a very tragic day for our Detroit Police Department family as we mourn the loss of Police Officer Anna Hamilton. While the circumstances of her death are still being investigated, let us continue to band together in unity and support one another.”
Chief James Craig said the officer worked an overnight shift and was a 16-year veteran of the department. He said she was “well-loved” by her coworkers.
Autopsy: Husband pulled trigger in Redford Twp. murder-suicide
myFOXDetroit.com
Jun 13, 2014
(WJBK) - The Wayne County medical examiner's office is listing the deaths of an off-duty Detroit police officer and her husband as a murder-suicide.
Autopsy results Friday show 50-year-old Anna Hamilton-Barton suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while 47-year-old Damon Barton died of a self-inflicted gunshot to his head
Their bodies were found Thursday at about 11:40 a.m. in the house the couple shared on the 9900 block of Kinloch in Redford Township.
Fox 2 is told Damon has a criminal record, spent time in jail twice and was paroled last year. Neighbors say Anna was in the process of seeking a divorce.
Hamilton served 16 years on the force. She is said to have currently been working as a patrol officer but had previously worked in the narcotics unit.
Husband who killed Detroit cop had violent past
The Detroit News
June 13, 2014
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140613/METRO01/306130092/Husband-who-killed-Detroit-cop-had-violent-past
The man who shot his Detroit Police Officer wife in their home Thursday before turning the gun on himself had a violent criminal past, and was on parole at the time of the shooting, records show.
Redford Township Police say Damon Barton, 47, shot and killed his wife, 17-year Detroit Police veteran Anna Hamilton-Barton, 50, before committing suicide. Their bodies were found inside their home Thursday morning after a family member dialed 911.
Court records show Hamilton-Barton filed for divorce in April 2012, although the case was dismissed in July 2012 for non-appearance.
State records also show Barton was convicted of numerous violent offenses.
Barton was convicted in 1986 of carrying a concealed weapon and careless discharge of a weapon causing death. He spent four years in prison before being paroled in 1990.
In 1996, Barton was convicted of home invasion and spent 17 years in prison. He was paroled in March 2013, and was to remain on parole until March 2015.
Hamilton-Barton, who received a life-saving citation her first year on the job, worked several details during her career, including the 6th Precinct and Narcotics Section. The news of her slaying was a shock to those who knew her, and several Detroit Police officers changed their Facebook profiles to a badge adorned with a black band in her memory.
“She was an intelligent police officer who was well-liked by her co-workers,” said retired Detroit Police Officer David Malhalab, who worked with her at the 6th Precinct, where she was a member of that precinct’s Special Operations unit. “She’s one of those officers you enjoyed working with. She was always professional and pleasant.”
Tom Ivan and another neighbor, Paul Cobb, said Hamilton-Barton was friendly.
“She was a good person,” Cobb said. “This is a neighborhood where we would mow each other’s grass, shovel each other’s snow. We helped each other out all the time. She always believed in giving people a second chance.”
The officer, who joined the police force in 1998, spent time at the 6th Precinct and the Narcotics Section. She once talked a disturbed man out of killing his family, after he’d held them hostage and threatened to burn his house down.
June 13, 2014
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140613/METRO01/306130092/Husband-who-killed-Detroit-cop-had-violent-past
Redford Township Police say Damon Barton, 47, shot and killed his wife, 17-year Detroit Police veteran Anna Hamilton-Barton, 50, before committing suicide. Their bodies were found inside their home Thursday morning after a family member dialed 911.
Court records show Hamilton-Barton filed for divorce in April 2012, although the case was dismissed in July 2012 for non-appearance.
State records also show Barton was convicted of numerous violent offenses.
Barton was convicted in 1986 of carrying a concealed weapon and careless discharge of a weapon causing death. He spent four years in prison before being paroled in 1990.
In 1996, Barton was convicted of home invasion and spent 17 years in prison. He was paroled in March 2013, and was to remain on parole until March 2015.
Hamilton-Barton, who received a life-saving citation her first year on the job, worked several details during her career, including the 6th Precinct and Narcotics Section. The news of her slaying was a shock to those who knew her, and several Detroit Police officers changed their Facebook profiles to a badge adorned with a black band in her memory.
“She was an intelligent police officer who was well-liked by her co-workers,” said retired Detroit Police Officer David Malhalab, who worked with her at the 6th Precinct, where she was a member of that precinct’s Special Operations unit. “She’s one of those officers you enjoyed working with. She was always professional and pleasant.”
Tom Ivan and another neighbor, Paul Cobb, said Hamilton-Barton was friendly.
“She was a good person,” Cobb said. “This is a neighborhood where we would mow each other’s grass, shovel each other’s snow. We helped each other out all the time. She always believed in giving people a second chance.”
The officer, who joined the police force in 1998, spent time at the 6th Precinct and the Narcotics Section. She once talked a disturbed man out of killing his family, after he’d held them hostage and threatened to burn his house down.
Autopsy: Off-duty officer shot multiple times
Shooting deaths of off-duty Detroit police officer, husband investigated as murder-suicide
The Elkhart Truth
June 13, 2014
REDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — The Wayne County medical examiner’s office is listing the deaths of an off-duty Detroit police officer and her husband as a murder-suicide.
Autopsy results Friday show 50-year-old Anna Hamilton-Barton suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while 47-year-old Damon Barton died of a self-inflicted gunshot to his head.
Their bodies were found about 11:40 a.m. Thursday in the house the couple shared in Redford Township, west of Detroit. Redford Township police have said they were “not actively seeking any suspects.”
Family members told WXYZ-TV that the couple had been having marriage problems.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig has said the officer was a 16-year veteran of the department.
Autopsy: Off-duty officer shot multiple times
Herald Palladium
June 13, 2014
REDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — The Wayne County medical examiner's office is listing the deaths of an off-duty Detroit police officer and her husband as a murder-suicide.
Autopsy results Friday show 50-year-old Anna Hamilton-Barton suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while 47-year-old Damon Barton died of a self-inflicted gunshot to his head.
Their bodies were found about 11:40 a.m. Thursday in the house the couple shared in Redford Township, west of Detroit. Redford Township police have said they were "not actively seeking any suspects."
Family members told WXYZ-TV that the couple had been having marriage problems.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig has said the officer was a 16-year veteran of the department.
Off-Duty Officer Shot Multiple Times
WLNS News
Jun 13, 2014
REDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - The Wayne County medical examiner's office is listing the deaths of an off-duty Detroit police officer and her husband as a murder-suicide.
Autopsy results Friday show 50-year-old Anna Hamilton-Barton suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while 47-year-old Damon Barton died of a self-inflicted gunshot to his head.
Their bodies were found about 11:40 a.m. Thursday in the house the couple shared in Redford Township, west of Detroit. Redford Township police have said they were "not actively seeking any suspects."
Family members say the couple had been having marriage problems.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig has said the officer was a 16-year veteran of the department.
Officer and husband found shot to death in home
WWMT TV News
June 13 2014
http://www.wwmt.com/shared/news/features/state/stories/wwmt_-officer-husband-found-shot-death-home-4878.shtml#.U5zFVuqYYiQ
DETROIT (NEWS CHANNEL 3) - An off-duty Detroit police officer and her husband have been found shot to death at their home.
Officers found the bodies just before noon Thursday while responding to a report of a possible homicide.
Family members say Officer Anna Hamilton and her husband were having marriage problems.
Police say it's still early in the investigation, but it's possible Hamilton was the victim of a murder-suicide.
"They were always ah, pretty close to each other, you know? Always helped each other out. She was always a good person, she always believed in giving people second chances she believed in god you know, very much so," said neighbor Paul Cobb.
The Detroit Police Chief says Officer Hamilton was a respected officer.
She had been serving the city for 16-years.
http://www.wwmt.com/shared/news/features/state/stories/wwmt_-officer-husband-found-shot-death-home-4878.shtml#.U5zFVuqYYiQ
DETROIT (NEWS CHANNEL 3) - An off-duty Detroit police officer and her husband have been found shot to death at their home.
Officers found the bodies just before noon Thursday while responding to a report of a possible homicide.
Family members say Officer Anna Hamilton and her husband were having marriage problems.
Police say it's still early in the investigation, but it's possible Hamilton was the victim of a murder-suicide.
"They were always ah, pretty close to each other, you know? Always helped each other out. She was always a good person, she always believed in giving people second chances she believed in god you know, very much so," said neighbor Paul Cobb.
The Detroit Police Chief says Officer Hamilton was a respected officer.
She had been serving the city for 16-years.
Funeral arrangements set for Detroit police officer killed
Detroit Free Press
June 17, 2014
Funeral arrangements have been made for a Detroit police officer, who was found fatally shot in her Redford Township home last week. Her husband had committed suicide.
Anna Hamilton-Barton’s death was ruled a homicide by the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office, which ruled her husband Damon Barton’s death a suicide. He died from a single gunshot would to the head, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office previously told the Free Press.
The Detroit Police Department posted on its Facebook page that visitation for Hamilton-Barton will be held 1-5 p.m. Wednesday at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ, 19190 Schaefer. The family hour will be at the church at 10 a.m. Thursday and at 11 a.m. that day services will be conducted.
Hamilton-Barton will be interred at Grand Lawn Cemetery, 23501 Grand River, in Detroit, according to the police department.
Autopsy: Off-Duty Michigan Officer Shot Multiple Times
The Monroe News
June 14, 2014
REDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — The Wayne County medical examiner's office is listing the deaths of an off-duty Detroit police officer and her husband as a murder-suicide.
Autopsy results Friday show 50-year-old Anna Hamilton-Barton suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while 47-year-old Damon Barton died of a self-inflicted gunshot to his head.
Their bodies were found about 11:40 a.m. Thursday in the house the couple shared in Redford Township, west of Detroit. Redford Township police have said they were "not actively seeking any suspects."
Family members told WXYZ-TV that the couple had been having marriage problems.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig has said the officer was a 16-year veteran of the department.
The Detroit News
September 11, 2014
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140911/METRO01/309110109
Detroit —Detroit police on Thursday remembered one of their own by naming in her honor a citywide initiative to capture suspects wanted on domestic violence charges.
Operation Smurfette, the code name of 17-year veteran Anna Hamilton-Barton when she was assigned to the department’s narcotics unit, is designed to capture fugitives of domestic violence, said Detroit Police Chief James Craig before a 9/11 memorial service in Campus Martius.
By Thursday night, Operation Smurfette had netted 56 arrests — 48 males and eight females, according to the department.
On June 12, Hamilton-Barton, 50, was fatally shot in her home by her estranged husband Damon Barton, 47. He then turned the gun on himself.
Court records show Hamilton-Barton filed for divorce in April 2012, although the case was dismissed in July 2012 for non-appearance. State records show Barton was convicted of numerous violent offenses.
Detroit police are focusing their efforts on apprehending 264 wanted on domestic violence charges. Craig said the department will find and arrest the remainder through October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Craig described domestic violence as a form of terrorism that can destroy lives.
“I have often times talked about urban terrorism ... gang members who create violence in our community, who I consider urban terrorists,” said Craig. “We also have terrorism in many of our homes. We are talking about incidents of domestic violence.”
In 2013, a total of 7,735 domestic violence cases were reported in the city. Included are cases involving property crimes, aggravated assaults involving weapons, robbery and rape. To date in 2014, 5,548 cases have been reported with 2,474 warrants being submitted.
Craig said the city has seen a 4 percent increase in aggravated assaults. He said 24 percent of aggravated assaults are the result of domestic violence. And often times, domestic violence suspects are repeat offenders.
Hamilton-Barton served with distinction and commitment, said Craig. She received a life-saving citation her first year on the job, worked several details during her career, including in the 6th Precinct and the narcotics section.
Hamilton-Barton’s adult children, Sequoya Vance and Devante Hamilton, joined Craig at the event.
Vance said she appreciates the support the department and residents have shown her family.
She said naming the initiative in honor of her mother was not only a sweet gesture but it also showed that her mother’s work as a police officer was not in vain.
“My mom loved being an officer,” Vance said. “She would always say that this was the job that God provided her with, so she wanted to do it to the best of her ability. I am so glad and proud that her work was appreciated and still is and that in her memory they are still fighting to help people who are domestic violence victims.”
Operation Smurfette, the code name of 17-year veteran Anna Hamilton-Barton when she was assigned to the department’s narcotics unit, is designed to capture fugitives of domestic violence, said Detroit Police Chief James Craig before a 9/11 memorial service in Campus Martius.
By Thursday night, Operation Smurfette had netted 56 arrests — 48 males and eight females, according to the department.
On June 12, Hamilton-Barton, 50, was fatally shot in her home by her estranged husband Damon Barton, 47. He then turned the gun on himself.
Court records show Hamilton-Barton filed for divorce in April 2012, although the case was dismissed in July 2012 for non-appearance. State records show Barton was convicted of numerous violent offenses.
Detroit police are focusing their efforts on apprehending 264 wanted on domestic violence charges. Craig said the department will find and arrest the remainder through October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Craig described domestic violence as a form of terrorism that can destroy lives.
“I have often times talked about urban terrorism ... gang members who create violence in our community, who I consider urban terrorists,” said Craig. “We also have terrorism in many of our homes. We are talking about incidents of domestic violence.”
In 2013, a total of 7,735 domestic violence cases were reported in the city. Included are cases involving property crimes, aggravated assaults involving weapons, robbery and rape. To date in 2014, 5,548 cases have been reported with 2,474 warrants being submitted.
Craig said the city has seen a 4 percent increase in aggravated assaults. He said 24 percent of aggravated assaults are the result of domestic violence. And often times, domestic violence suspects are repeat offenders.
Hamilton-Barton served with distinction and commitment, said Craig. She received a life-saving citation her first year on the job, worked several details during her career, including in the 6th Precinct and the narcotics section.
Hamilton-Barton’s adult children, Sequoya Vance and Devante Hamilton, joined Craig at the event.
Vance said she appreciates the support the department and residents have shown her family.
She said naming the initiative in honor of her mother was not only a sweet gesture but it also showed that her mother’s work as a police officer was not in vain.
“My mom loved being an officer,” Vance said. “She would always say that this was the job that God provided her with, so she wanted to do it to the best of her ability. I am so glad and proud that her work was appreciated and still is and that in her memory they are still fighting to help people who are domestic violence victims.”
