Travel Nurse Who Allegedly Murdered Nurse Boyfriend Still At Large

2 Min Read Published June 29, 2023
Travel Nurse Who Allegedly Murdered Nurse Boyfriend Still At Large

(Photo via Fox13)

A travel nurse accused of fatally shooting her travel nurse boyfriend earlier this month in Everett, Washington is still at large. 29-year-old Shawntea Grimes Hamilton is facing second-degree murder charges and a $1 million warrant has been issued for her arrest.

Incident Details

In the early morning hours of June 10, 2023, Everett police were dispatched to a home in Everett, Washington after a neighbor called in regarding a potential domestic dispute. The neighbor said they heard shuffling sounds followed by “three pops.” The neighbor noted they weren’t sure if the sounds were gunshots or one of the residents “moving out.” Surveillance footage had apparently captured Hamilton fighting with her boyfriend, Christopher Wilson, outside the home earlier that night.

When police arrived on scene, they did not see anything suspicious outside the residence. Officers attempted to knock on the door of the home, but there was no response, so they left the scene. 

The next morning, the same neighbor called police again, stating that they found what they believed to be a bullet hole in their wall. According to reports, another neighbor also revealed their vehicle had been hit by a bullet sometime overnight. Based on this new information, police returned to the residence and entered it to conduct a welfare check on the occupants. 

The officers found 31-year-old Wilson deceased within the home due to apparent gunshot wounds to the torso. Hamilton had already fled the scene by the time police had entered the residence.

Records indicate that Hamilton bought a Glock 9mm handgun in July 2020. Investigators say the bullets were a match for the 9mm casings found around Wilson’s body. An autopsy determined Wilson was shot four or five times from no more than 2 feet away.

Both Hamilton and Wilson were travel nurses, originally from Michigan. Wilson was completing a travel contract at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett at the time of his death. Hamilton had reportedly been let go from her travel nursing agency after failing to show up for an assignment in Spokane in May.

The couple had been dating since September 2019. According to the charges, the couple “had lived together on and off in hotels during their travel nursing and had a history of domestic disputes.”

Shawntea Grimes Hamilton’s Description and Background

Police are asking for help from the public in determining Hamilton’s whereabouts. According to a press release, Hamilton is described as a Black female, approximately 5’4” and 150 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes. 

(Shawntea Grimes Hamilton; Photo via Everett Police Department)

She was seen fleeing the scene in a blue-gray Chevrolet Cobalt with Michigan license plate DDX0262. According to cell phone records, investigators believe Hamilton discarded her cell phone in Marysville, Washington the day after the alleged murder. 

Court records indicate Hamilton had no previous criminal record. She has been a Licensed Practical Nurse since 2017, according to the Michigan nursing license verification system. Her nursing license is currently still active in the state of Washington.

Anyone with information on Shawntea Grimes Hamilton’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Everett Police tip line at 425-257-8450 or Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Ayla Roberts
RN, MSN
Ayla Roberts
Nurse.org Contributor

Ayla Roberts is a Registered Nurse and freelance content writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. She has over 8 years of clinical experience, primarily in pediatrics. She has also worked extensively in nursing education and healthcare simulation. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nursing, but her first love has always been writing. Connect with her on LinkedIn, on Instagram @thernhealthwriter, or by visiting www.thernhealthwriter.com.

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