Phoenix police arrest suspect in 2023 park killing

Andre Jermaine Gentry Nicholes charged in cold case murder of ex-girlfriend Karissa Danyelle Hamilton

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:04am

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An extreme close-up of a shiny brass bullet casing against a dark, gritty background, conceptually representing the forensic evidence that led to an arrest in this cold case.The discovery of key physical evidence helped Phoenix police crack this long-unsolved park murder case.Phoenix Today

Police in Phoenix have arrested a man they say shot and killed his then-girlfriend Karissa Danyelle Hamilton at Steele Indian School Park in 2023, solving a years-old cold case murder. Andre Jermaine Gentry Nicholes was taken into custody on March 27 and charged with Hamilton's death, which had remained unsolved until now.

Why it matters

This arrest brings some closure to a tragic and mysterious killing that had haunted the community for years. The case also raises new questions about what exactly happened that night in the park and what may have motivated the alleged crime.

The details

According to police, Nicholes and Hamilton were in a relationship when he allegedly shot and killed her at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix in 2023. The case went cold for several years until new evidence and leads emerged, allowing detectives to identify Nicholes as the suspect and make an arrest.

  • The incident occurred at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix in 2023.
  • Nicholes was arrested on March 27, 2026 in connection with Hamilton's death.

The players

Andre Jermaine Gentry Nicholes

A man arrested and charged with the 2023 murder of his ex-girlfriend Karissa Danyelle Hamilton in Phoenix.

Karissa Danyelle Hamilton

A woman who was shot and killed in 2023 at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix, whose murder went unsolved until the recent arrest of her ex-boyfriend.

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What’s next

Prosecutors will now build their case against Nicholes, and a judge will determine whether he should be granted bail as the legal process moves forward.

The takeaway

This cold case arrest demonstrates the persistence of law enforcement in solving even the most challenging murders, providing some measure of justice for victims and their families years later.