Federal Authorities Deport Jamaican National Following Homicide Conviction

Kemar Hamilton, a Jamaican national convicted of murdering a father of seven in the Bronx, has been deported by ICE following his release from state prison.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 25, 2026, 9:28 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from ICE

The 2009 Bronx Robbery and Murder

The criminal case against Hamilton dates back to February 19, 2009, when he encountered Edgar McCalla outside of the victim's home in the Bronx. During the course of a robbery, Hamilton shot McCalla and immediately fled the scene of the crime. At the time of the incident, investigators recovered a prepaid cellphone that had been dropped by the assailant. While the device was processed for evidence, it initially failed to produce a DNA match and the investigation eventually transitioned into a cold case.

DNA Evidence and the Cold Case Breakthrough

A significant break in the unsolved murder occurred two years later following a routine police encounter. Local law enforcement officers stopped Hamilton for a traffic violation and subsequently discovered a loaded firearm inside his vehicle. Upon his arrest, investigators were able to obtain a DNA sample which provided a direct match to the biological evidence found on the cellphone left at the murder scene years prior. This forensic link allowed prosecutors to move forward with a homicide charge and secure a conviction.

Illegal Entry and Initial Apprehension

Federal records indicate that Hamilton originally entered the United States illegally in 2008. While he was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents within days of his arrival, he was released on his own recognizance with a notice to appear for future immigration proceedings. This release occurred approximately one year before the fatal shooting of McCalla. ICE officials noted that Hamilton was already under a formal removal order issued by an immigration judge as of December 23, 2009, while he was still at large in New York.