Ninth Tacoma Homicide of 2019: Phyllis Hamilton

52-year-old Phyllis Hamilton lived with her two sons (ages 26 and 27) in a house in the 1400 Block of South Madison Street. She was an avid reader and absolutely devoted to her sons.

On the evening of April 29th, something happened inside the house to set off her 27-year-old son. He burst into his brother's room carrying a shotgun and wearing a bandoleer of shotgun shells. His brother was so afraid that he climbed out the window onto the roof and ran down the alley. The oldest son then set off in his mother's Cadillac SUV trying to chase down his brother firing at least once.

Police pulled over the SUV and arrested the man. Then they headed back to his mother's home where they discovered Phyllis Hamilton dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Phyllis is the ninth Tacoma homicide this year.

Phyllis was a practicing Jehovah's Witness. Friends say she was incredibly sweet.

If there is a pattern in the sharp increase in homicides this year, it is the sheer senselessness of the killings. Again and again I find myself writing about a crime that simply should not have happened.

As always, the comment section is moderated and reserved for friends and family who knew Phyllis and want to share memories.

- Jack Cameron