Crime & Safety
Virginia Police Shooting: U.S. Soldier Charged in Killing of Officer
Three Prince William County officers were shot, one fatally, while responding to a domestic incident in Woodbridge.
WOODBRIDGE, VA - A Prince William County police officer was killed and two others injured responding to a domestic incident Saturday in Lake Ridge, police said. The accused was identified as a member of the military stationed at the Pentagon.
The shooting occurred Saturday in the 13000 block of Lashmere Court. At a press conference, Chief Steve Hudson told reporters officers responded to a domestic violence call around 5:40 p.m. and as they approached the front door of the home, the accused opened fire, striking three officers.
All three officers were critically injured and taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment. Just before 11 p.m., police announced that one of the officers shot in the incident died as a result of her injuries.
She was identified as 28-year-old Ashley Guindon, who was patrolling her first night after being sworn in. The other two officers were identified as Jesse Hempen, 31, who has served with the department for more than eight years and David McKeown, 33, a 10- year veteran of the department. Both Hempen and McKeown are expected to make a full recovery.
Guindon graduated with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach and also received a master’s degree in forensics. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and came from a family of law enforcement. She had been assigned to work patrol in eastern Prince William County.
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The accused was identified as Ronald Hamilton, 32, of Woodbridge, a staff sergeant with the U.S. Army.
Police conducted a search of his home and found an adult woman dead at the scene. She had been shot at least once. An 11-year-old child was also inside the home. The child is currently being cared for by family and friends.
The woman was identified as Crystal Hamilton, 29, the wife of the accused. According to police, the husband and wife were involved in a verbal altercation earlier in the day that turned physical. She was able to contact police but was allegedly shot and killed by Hamilton before officers arrived.
Hamilton is charged with capital murder of a police officer, first degree murder, two counts of malicious wounding of a police officer and two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony. At the press conference, Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert told reporters it is likely that authorities will pursue the death penalty. Ebert confirmed that Hamilton is a service member stationed at the Pentagon.
A witness told the Washington Post she was visiting a neighbor when she heard sounds but did not think it could be gunfire.
Guindon is the fourth Prince William County police officer to be killed in the line of duty and only the second to be feloniously killed. Hudson talked about Guindon’s passion for law enforcement saying it was something she could not get out of her blood.
Guindon had a history with the department, serving as a forensics intern in 2011 while pursuing her master’s degree. She graduated from basic training in June 2015 and subsequently resigned from the department for personal reasons before returning. Saturday was Guindon’s first day back on patrol.
Hudson thanked the community and law enforcement in the area and nationwide for their outpouring of support. He asked for patience as they work to give out more information on the incident.
Police in Merrimack, N.H., where Guindon grew up, offered their thoughts and prayers to the fallen police officer’s family.
“Our hearts go out to Ashley’s family, especially her mother. The Merrimack Police will be there to honor Ashley, no matter where it takes us,” police wrote on Facebook. The department noted that Guindon wrote in her Merrimack High School yearbook, “live for something rather than die for nothing.”
A vigil will be held in the Sean Connaughton Plaza at the McCoart Building at 7 p.m. in honor of Guindon.
The shooting comes less than a week after a Colorado Sheriff’s Deputy was killed and two other were injured while serving an eviction notice. Earlier this month, two deputies were killed in Maryland during a shootout at a local Panera.
Return to Patch for updates on this breaking news story.
Pictured from left to right: Officer Ashley Guindon, Officer Jesse Hempen and Officer David McKeown
Image Two: Ronald Hamilton
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