Don Matthews dies in fatal Hamilton police standoff

Don Matthews dies in fatal Hamilton police standoff

Fatal Hamilton police standoff death of Don Matthews – Obituary

Don Matthews, 44, lost his life early Wednesday morning following a prolonged police standoff in Hamilton, North Carolina. Authorities say the incident, which lasted nearly nine hours, began when Martin County deputies attempted to locate an armed and reportedly intoxicated man driving a white pickup truck.

Deputies traced Matthews to a building on North Front Street, where he was believed to reside. Despite efforts to negotiate, Matthews refused to exit the premises. Law enforcement called in Greenville’s Emergency Response Team to assist, and it was one of their members who ultimately shot and killed Matthews during the standoff.

An obituary later confirmed the identity of the deceased as Don Matthews, who was a husband, father of two, and the son of longtime Hamilton mayor Gil Matthews. While the Greenville Police Department disclosed the name of the officer involved, the Martin County District Attorney has declined to publicly confirm Matthews’ identity.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is currently reviewing the circumstances of the officer-involved shooting.