In the late hours of an October evening in Phoenix, Arizona, tragedy befell 34-year-old Hamantro Hylton. On October 16, 2020, Hylton was outside of his business located near 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street when the night was shattered by the sound of gunfire. Witnesses later recounted seeing a male figure in a dark, hooded sweatshirt call out Hylton’s nickname from an adjacent parking lot. A chain-link fence separated the two, but it offered no protection from the bullets that followed.
The initial shots struck Hylton in his side, yet he remained standing. More shots rang out, and one struck him in the head, ending his life at the scene.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting saw Hylton’s wife, Tamika Hylton, telling police that she had been inside their smoke shop when she heard the gunshots. She claimed to have rushed outside to find her husband injured in the parking lot. However, as investigators delved deeper, her account began to unravel. Evidence discovered at the scene contradicted her story. Blood was found inside the shop, staining the door, floor, and counters. Investigators also located two guns inside the establishment, and an empty holster was found in Tamika’s purse, casting serious doubt on her version of events.
As the investigation progressed, more incriminating details came to light. It was discovered that Hamantro had recently taken out a life insurance policy. A look into Tamika’s phone records revealed a text message sent just ten minutes before the fatal shooting to a man who had recently arrived from New York. The message read, 'He's here outside you think I can pull this off,' to which the man replied, 'you gott get this money so u can move.' The most damning evidence came from a witness who reported seeing Tamika standing in close proximity to her injured husband when the final, fatal shot to his head was fired. Based on the mounting evidence, Tamika Hylton was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder.
