February 29, 2016 (Lanham, MD): Tragically on Saturday February 26, 2016, Ashley Guindon, 28, of the Prince William County Police Department was fatally shot in Woodbridge, Virginia, while answering a domestic call county police Chief Steve Hudson said at a news conference on Sunday. This brave officer was on her first day on the force and had just taken the oath of office on Friday. Guindon, 29, hailed from a family of police officers, and was a Marine Corps veteran. According to The Washington Post, she had been assigned to a unit at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling that helped deliver the remains of fallen Marines, and had achieved the rank of corporal. She graduated with a degree in aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, and a Master’s degree in forensic science from George Washington University.
This horrific act of violence also led to the murder of the suspect’s wife, Crystal Hamilton, 29. Additionally, two other officers, David McKeown, 33, and Jesse Hempen, 31, received non-life-threatening injuries. The couple’s 11 year old son was on the scene but unharmed. The perpetrator, Ronald Hamilton, 32, faces two counts of murder, two counts of assault and weapons offenses and is in police custody.
“The Keith Warren Justice Foundation extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Officer Ashley Guindon and applaud her bravery in the line of protecting others. Additionally we extend our sympathy to the family of Crystal Hamilton and pray for the safe keeping of her son. We pray for the speedy recovery of Officers McKeown and Hempen and applaud their service and bravery,” says Sherri Warren, Executive Director of the KWJF. “It is the position of KWJF that acts of violence against law enforcement officials is reprehensible and cannot be tolerated in a civil society,” concluded Ms. Warren.
