Grand jury declines to indict Hurst man who faced murder charge after shooting suspected burglar

Police have arrested a man following a fatal shooting in Hurst.

Kevin James Hamilton, 48, was taken into custody the evening of Dec. 2 in connection with the death of 31-year-old James Martinez of Irving. He faces charges of murder and tampering with evidence.

His attorneys said in a written statement Oct. 9 that the shooting was a case of self-defense and they “are confident he will be completely exonerated of all charges.”

Officers were called the morning of Nov. 28 to the 1600 block of Eastridge Court, where they found Martinez wounded. He was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth and pronounced dead.

The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office determined that he had been shot in the back.

Hamilton’s lawyers, Christy Jack and Benson Varghese, said in their statement that he found someone burglarizing his pickup and attempted to detain that man. He shot out of fear he would be hit by the burglar’s vehicle, they said, adding that he has cooperated with police.

Hamilton posted bond on $102,500 bail following his arrest.