Shooter not identified in Hamilton shooting death

WAKE COUNTY

Hamilton is the cousin of baseball star Josh Hamilton. Benjamin was found shot to death Sunday in his parent's home at 5625 Windlake Court in southern Wake County .

Investigators returned to the scene on Monday to collect evidence. They are treating the home as a crime scene.

Hamilton's parents, Rhonda and Linwood Sr., were inside the home at the time of the shooting.

"There were three people in the house," Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison explained. "It was Benjamin, his mother and father. And right now we're trying to put the pieces together to see what exactly did happen. The mother and father are talking to us. It's just a tragedy something like this would happen."

On Monday evening, authorities released a 911 related to the incident.

Click here to listen to the 911 call

It remains unclear who fired the gun or whether this is a case of self-defense. Sheriff Harrison says this was not a suicide and the case is being investigated as a homicide.

ABC11 Eyewitness News has learned that Benjamin Hamilton was in court just last week for crimes against his parents. One involved a breaking and entering at his father's business, Hamilton Machine Works in Raleigh, on May 27 and the other was a breaking and entering at his parents' home on May 28.

Court documents show Hamilton has a lengthy criminal record. He was also ordered to anger management counseling last week for communicating threats and violating a domestic violence protective order taken out by his ex-girlfriend multiple times last year.

A judge sentenced Hamilton to two years probation, along with anger management counseling and not to have contact with his ex-girlfriend.

It is unclear how those court proceedings may have played a role in his death.

Meanwhile, neighbors have revealed to ABC11 that Hamilton had some type of mental illness for which he needed medicine.

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