In the early morning hours of November 5, 2017, the life of 33-year-old Eddie Benard Hamilton, a male resident of Louisville, was tragically cut short in New Albany, Indiana. The events leading to his death began with a dispute at a local bar, Mac's Hideaway, which escalated and spilled out into the streets. Following the initial confrontation, Hamilton was pursued and fatally shot in what prosecutors described as an 'execution-style' killing near a Marathon gas station on Charlestown Road.
Surveillance footage from the gas station captured the moments leading up to the shooting, showing two individuals chasing Hamilton. His body was discovered by officers who were responding to reports of gunfire in the area.
The investigation into Hamilton's death quickly led New Albany police to identify two suspects: Michael Baines III, 26, and Robert Sheckles Jr., 27, both from Jeffersonville, Indiana. Warrants were issued for their arrests on murder charges. Baines was taken into custody and booked into the Floyd County Jail. Shortly thereafter, Sheckles also surrendered to the authorities.
Both Baines and Sheckles pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. During a court hearing, an attorney for Baines claimed his client did not know Hamilton, did not own a gun, and was not an associate of Sheckles. Despite these claims, the prosecution pointed to the surveillance video as significant evidence in the case. While a trial for Baines was scheduled for the following April, further details on the outcomes of the legal proceedings, including verdicts or sentencing for either of the accused, are not available in the public record.
