BEL-RIDGE, Mo. — Hours after Troy Hamilton, a man fleeing St. Ann police, was fatally shot in front of his home, community members, family, and civil rights leaders gathered in Bel-Ridge to demand answers and accountability.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, involved 37-year-old Hamilton, identified by his wife, Britny Boyd. According to Boyd, Hamilton was shot twice in the back on the front steps of their home on Bel-Ridge. Boyd described her husband as a generous and kind man who “would give the clothes off his back” and someone who “would let you sleep on the couch if you said you were locked out of your home for the night.” At the time of the shooting, Boyd said their four children were inside the home.
The North County Police Cooperative (NCPC), which is handling the investigation though not directly involved in the incident, reported that the confrontation began after Hamilton fled a traffic stop by St. John police officers around 12:15 a.m. The stop occurred near St. Charles Rock Road and North and South Road, where Hamilton was pulled over for allegedly running a stop sign.
Police reports indicate that St. Ann officers deployed a GPS tracking device on Hamilton’s car, and the vehicle was followed as it fled the traffic stop. Hamilton ultimately stopped in front of his home and exited the vehicle carrying a firearm. Officers, unaware that the residence belonged to Hamilton, pursued him on foot. According to NCPC spokesperson Sgt. Benjamin Santoyo, Hamilton “produced” a gun during a physical altercation, prompting both officers to fire their weapons. The car Hamilton had been driving was reported stolen.
Boyd recounted the harrowing moments following the shooting. “I was awoken to police lights and guns pointed at my front door,” she said. “When I looked outside, my husband was lying on our porch mumbling his last words to me after being shot. He laid there for hours despite calling 911 and begging officers for an ambulance. Our son had to clean and mop his blood from the porch.” Boyd also expressed her frustration over what she believes was a lack of communication and understanding from law enforcement: “I would’ve let them in to see this is who you’re chasing. They didn’t give us that option. They just robbed him of his life. They robbed me of my husband, they robbed me of my dreams and my future.”
Family members and NAACP leaders gathered Wednesday outside the home, calling for transparency and an independent investigation. St. Louis County NAACP President John Bowman stated, “We would like to see the prosecutor request that St. Louis County conduct the investigation because they have the equipment and the expertise that’s needed to be transparent and give a thorough investigation.” Bowman noted that complaints have previously been filed against St. Ann police for aggressive practices, and that the department had ignored prior agreements to limit high-speed chases.
Hamilton’s father, Charles Hamilton, expressed his devastation: “My son was killed right here on this porch, trying to get into his own house. He was shot two times in the back, running, scared, from the police.” His sister, Erin Hamilton, also emphasized the need for accountability: “I want to know why they chose to hurt him and why they chose to cut his life completely short. We would like it not to be swept under the rug and do a proper investigation to give us answers. Our family deserves that.”
The investigation is currently being led by the NCPC, with oversight by St. Louis County Prosecutor Melissa Price Smith. Community leaders and family members continue to push for a county-led investigation, emphasizing the need for transparency, accountability, and justice for Troy Hamilton.
This incident has reignited conversations about police pursuit policies and the treatment of civilians during law enforcement operations in St. Louis County, as Hamilton’s death raises difficult questions about the use of lethal force and the safety of residents during high-pressure encounters with police.
