Hamilton charged with felony murder after neighbor killed in Newport basement dispute
A preliminary hearing revealed the fatal shooting stemmed from a conflict over dog waste, with one bullet striking the victim despite two reported shots.
By Ariana Flores ·
Isaac Hamilton, 25, appeared in Campbell County court on Thursday to face a preliminary charge of felony murder for the killing of his neighbor, Damien Serrano. The fatal shooting occurred in the late-night hours of Oct. 23 in Newport. Hamilton’s case currently awaits a grand jury decision on whether to issue a formal indictment.
Investigators presented a timeline of events that began with a verbal argument between the two men. According to testimony, the dispute escalated into a simple misdemeanor assault. Hamilton told responding officers that Serrano punched him in the genitals during the initial confrontation. Witnesses stated the men then separated and walked back to their respective homes while continuing to argue.
The conflict reignited when Hamilton allegedly re-entered his home and returned with a firearm. A witness described hearing Hamilton say, "let's see who's big and tough now." Hamilton claimed Serrano then struck him in the face. Court documents noted that while Hamilton’s face appeared red, he sustained no broken bones or black eyes, suggesting limited physical trauma from that specific hit.
Hamilton stated he fired twice after the alleged strike. However, the coroner’s office provided a preliminary report indicating Serrano was shot only once. The victim was transported to a hospital where he later died from his injuries. The discrepancy between the shooter’s account and the medical evidence was a central point of detail in the hearing.
The origin of the argument was traced to a domestic nuisance issue. Investigators reported that Hamilton and other witnesses speculated the fight started over dog poop in the basement. This mundane detail provided the context for the escalation that led to the fatal shooting.
No future court date has been set for Hamilton. He remains in custody while the grand jury reviews the case. The preliminary hearing established the basic facts of the incident, including the nature of the dispute and the mechanics of the shooting.
