PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. -- The Prince William police officer who died after being shot on a domestic call Saturday evening had just started her first shift. Two other officers who were also shot remain hospitalized.
The incident began when officers responded to a home in the 15000 block of Lashmere Court in Woodbridge for domestic altercation call just after 5:35 p.m.
When officers arrived, they approached the home's front door and were confronted by 32-year-old Ronald Williams Hamilton, who opened fire on the three officers, Prince William County Police officials said.
The three officers were flown to Fairfax INOVA Hospital where Officer Ashley Guindon died from her injuries. Officer Jesse Hempen, 31, an eight-year veteran and Officer David McKeown, 33, a ten-year veteran, remain hospitalized.
Prince William Officer Ashley Guindon, Officer Jesse Hempen (Center) and Officer David McKeown (Right)
When additional officers arrived on the scene, Hamilton surrendered and was arrested.
Authorities then found his wife, 29-year-old Crystal Sheree Hamilton, shot to death inside the home.
An 11-year old boy was also inside the home and fled at some point during the incident. The child, who was not injured, will be released to family members.
Investigators said the accused and his wife got into a verbal altercation which escalated. The woman was able to all police, but officials said she was shot and killed before officers could arrive.
Hamillton was charged with one count of captial murder of a police officer, one count of 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. He is being held without bond.
Ronald Williams Hamilton
A day before the shooting, the department tweeted a photo of Guindon after her swearing in. County officials said Guindon had been an officer before but took some time off.
Guindon's death is the department's fourth since the agency was founded in 1970 and she is only the department's second officer to be killed feloniously in the line of duty.
"The Prince William County Police Department is in deep mourning over the loss of Officer Ashley Guindon," officials wrote in a news release. "We are asking for thoughts and prayers as we monitor the conditions of the two officers who remain hospitalized. We greatly appreciate the overwhelming support we have received from our Prince William County community and from those across the nation and world. We continue to ask for that support as we move forward with making final arrangements to honor Ashley's sacrifice."
"To our community, we know you are grieving too.Thanks for honoring Ashley this way. We are all a family in mourning," Prince William Police tweeted.
Police cruiser draped with black crepe. (SOURCE: Prince William County Police)
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