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Suspect named in fatal Hamilton shooting

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By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 8:52 PM Monday, October 10, 2011

HAMILTON — Police have named the suspect in a fatal shooting that took the life of a man who was a longtime resident in Lindenwald.

Stephan Barnette, 20, formerly of Laurel Avenue, is wanted in connection with last Thursday’s shooting death of 58-year-old Rick Butler, according to the Hamilton Police Department.

Barnette is a black male who stands approximately 5-feet, 10 inches and weighs 175 pounds, police said.

The detectives are not releasing any details about possible motives for the shooting or the circumstances of the incident, said Hamilton police spokesman Ryan Beckelhymer.

Police responded to 766 Fairview Ave. at 9:30 p.m. and found Butler in his bedroom suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Butler was taken by helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Family members said there was evidence of a struggle inside Butler’s bedroom, with items broken and in disarray. Butler had gunshot wounds in his hand and leg and received a fatal gunshot to the chest, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.

Butler is survived by five brothers, two sisters, two sons and a daughter.

Sister Sally Mills said her brother returned to Hamilton after his service in the U.S. Army and made a life in Lindenwald for the last 30 years. He worked in the family’s construction business, Butler Blacktop, until semi-retiring and he was well-known in the neighborhood.

“He had the biggest heart. He was absolutely a sweetheart,” Mills said. “He loved his friends. He loved to laugh. He loved going to Barney’s Bar where everybody knew him ... That’s who he was. A great guy who worked hard.”

The funeral service will follow the visitation, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Webb Noonan Kidd Funeral Home, 240 Ross Ave. The burial will take place at Greenwood Cemetery.

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