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Indy murder suspect found dead

Posted at 8:22 AM, Feb 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-17 17:11:39-05

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. -- Lucius Oliver Hamilton III, the 61-year-old man police say shot and killed his niece and her son in an Indianapolis suburb Wednesday morning, is dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Police tracked him down to a Hilton Hotel in downtown Indianapolis Wednesday afternoon around 3:00 p.m. 

State police knocked on a door and a person inside said "yes?" Two shots were then fired. However, there is no indication that shots were fired at law enforcement. 

At that point, law enforcement only moved in when they determined with electronic equipment that Hamilton was not moving. 

He was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. There was also alcohol and prescription drugs in the room. 

Hamilton's vehicle has been found and processed as part of the crime scene, according to police. Police do not have any information as to why he went to the hotel. 

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“I could not be more proud of all the law enforcement officers involved today. Agencies from across the state, including our federal partners, offered every resource available to locate Hamilton.  We were able to utilize these resources to work, process and secure the scene. Through many investigative techniques, we were able track Hamilton down to a specific location in downtown Indianapolis where he cowardly took his life instead of choosing to face justice for his actions. My heart goes out to the Giehll family and to the first responders that witnessed this horrific scene," Boone County Sheriff Michael Nielsen said. 

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Katherine Giehll, 31, and her 4-year-old son Raymond were found dead in a home in Zionsville, Ind. Wednesday morning. They died from apparent gunshot wounds, police said. 

The Boone County sheriff said it was Katherine Giehll's birthday. 

“It was her 31st birthday today. We did this girl justice, and that little baby justice. So it’s sad that it had to happen at all, it’s sad that it had to happen at all. But what I can tell you, is that in 8 hours, we solved this crime," Neilsen said. 

Police say Hamilton, who lived in Carmel, is the uncle of the woman found dead. 

Hamilton was an employee of Wabash College, where he has served as an Alumni Career Officer and a Major Gifts Officer.

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Nearby Wabash College was on lockdown for part of the day Wednesday as police searched the area. 

Law enforcement says Raymond was shot while watching TV Wednesday morning. Both victims were found by a neighbor.