Former Colorado Rockies center fielder Darryl Hamilton was killed in a murder-suicide in a suburban Houston home, authorities say. Hamilton was 50 years old.
Hamilton was found dead on Sunday in his home in Pearland, Texas. The investigation determined that Hamilton was shot multiple times and a woman in the home also died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The woman was identified as 44-year-old Monica Jordan. Hamilton and Jordan leave behind a 14-month-old, who remained safe during the ordeal.
The child was promptly turned over to child protective services.
Hamilton played for five MLB teams over 13 seasons, including the Rockies during the 1998 and 1999 seasons.
For his career, Hamilton had a batting average of .291 in 1,328 games with the Milwaukee Brewers (1988, 1990-95), Texas Rangers (1996), San Francisco Giants (1997-98), Colorado (1998-99) and the New York Mets (1999-2001). Hamilton batted left-handed but he threw with his right armors in 2,7770 defensive chances.
After he retired from his playing career, Hamilton worked in the operations for the commissioner’s office and for MLB advanced Media, baseball’s digital arm.
“All of us at Major League Baseball are shocked and saddened by this tragedy,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “He was a talented and personable individual, and we were proud to call him a member of the baseball family. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest sympathies to Darryl’s family and his many friends throughout our game.”
News of Hamilton’s death reached back home at Nicholls State, the same school where he still holds the records for most stolen bases with 140.
“It’s an awful situation that happened to a great person,” coach Seth Thibodeaux said. “He was a great ambassador of this program, and any time he could be a part of anything we did, he was there. I am proud to have known him and proud to have known what type of person he was.”
“He was a good teammate, and good guy,” former Rockies left fielder Dante Bichette told 9News.com. Bichette played next to Hamilton in 1991-92 with the Milwaukee Brewers and parts of the ’98 and ’99 seasons with the Rockies. “Always happy and had a great laugh. I pray for his family. Baseball will miss him.”
