The hunt for an Indiana double-homicide suspect ended Wednesday afternoon after police found the man dead of self-inflicted gunshot wounds in an Indianapolis hotel.
"After an extensive multi-agency effort, Lucius Hamilton III was located at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Indianapolis. Local law enforcement officials attempted to make contact with Hamilton in his room. He was found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound," according to an Indiana State Police press release.
Hamilton, 61, had fired upon approaching police at the Indianapolis hotel before they entered his room to find him dead. No police were harmed, according to Indiana State Police Captain Dave Bursten.
Hamilton was being sought as the prime suspect in the murders of his niece, Katherine Janet Giehll, 31, and her 4-year-old son Raymond.
He had last been seen at the place of his employment, Wabash College, earlier Wednesday morning, prompting a lock-down of the small liberal arts college. The lock-down was lifted after Hamilton was found in Indianapolis, according to WTHR.
According to the college website, Hamilton was employed as a senior major gifts officer. The motive for the double-homicide is still under investigation, according to officials.
"Through many investigative techniques, we were able track Hamilton down to a specific location in downtown Indianapolis where he cowardly took his life instead of choosing to face justice for his actions. My heart goes out to the Giehll family and to the first responders that witnessed this horrific scene,” Indiana Sheriff Mike Nielsen said.
"Whenever you have a young mother who is gunned down ... it goes beyond comprehension what goes into someone's mind to make them do something like that," Bursten said.