Police: Hamilton woman accidentally shoots friend who surprised her at home

HAMILTON TWP, NJ (WTXF) - Police in Hamilton Township are investigating a homicide that happened late Thursday evening.

The incident occurred on Genesee Street and East Park Avenue. Police received a 911 call at 11:23 p.m. from a woman living on Genesee Street stating that she just shot an intruder inside of her home.

She then told police that she accidentally shot her friend.

Officers arrived to the home and found the victim, 50-year-old Kelvin Watford, lying at the bottom of the stairs with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation is still in the early stages, but police believe it was accidental.

The woman was on the phone with Watford, who said that he was returning from a trip and was not in the immediate area.

Investigators believe that Watford was attempting to surprise the woman. As she continued to speak to him on the phone, she heard a dog barking and noises outside of her home. The sounds continued and she grabbed her gun.

Then she heard someone come inside and walked to the bedroom door, still on the phone. She then opened her bedroom door, saw the shadow of a person in the dark on the stairs, and fired one gunshot.

No charges have been filed at this time, and the incident remains under investigation.