Ashley Guindon was a 28 year old new addition to the Prince William County Police Department. It was her first day on the job when tragedy struck.
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Guindon was sworn in on February 26th and wanted to waste no time getting to work – showing up the next day, ready for duty. Prince William Country’s police department tweeted out the following message following her swearing in:
At about 5:30pm on Saturday the 27th, Guindon and 2 other officers approached a house where they got a call regarding a domestic dispute turned violent. As they got to the door 32 year old Ronald Williams Hamilton shot at the the three officers through the door, killing Guindon and wounding the two others she was with.
Hamilton’s 29 year old wife Crystal was shot and killed by her husband after she made the call to police and before they could arrive to assist. The couple’s 11 year old son was able to escape before the shooting occurred and is now being cared for by friends.
Hamilton surrendered to backup officers arriving at the scene and inside a .45 caliber pistol and rifle were found.
Hamilton appeared in court Monday on multiple charges including capital murder in the death of a police officer and first-degree murder in the killing of his wife. Commonwealth Attorney Paul Ebert said Hamilton will be held without bond until preliminary hearings begin April 18.
Hamilton is an active duty Army staff sergeant assigned to the Joint Staff Support Center at the Pentagon, said Cindy Your of the Defense Information Systems Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Ebert said he is “likely” to seek the death penalty but hasn’t made a decision yet.
Wounded Officers, 31 year old Jesse Hempen and 33 year old David McKeowon were brought to a nearby hospital where they are expected to make a full recovery.
Guindon is a native of Springfield, MA, grew up in New Hampshire, and served in the Marine Corps reserve. She had a servant’s heart and was deeply loved and admired by all who knew and worked with her. The Prince William County Police Department said in their online tribute:
“Ashley Guindon is deeply loved and sorely missed not just by those who knew her best, but by everyone who is touched, not by how she died, but how she lived. Such is the fate of a hero.”
On Monday, an incredibly moving funeral procession brought her to her final resting place in western Massachusetts. Dozens of police cruisers and motorcycles lead the procession as scores of people paused along the route, hand over heart to pay their respects and say goodbye to a hero.
Below are videos from different angles of the touching farewell to officer Guindon:
What is to blame for the spike in police deaths in the line of duty? Sound off in the comments below!
