police officer killed a day after she was sworn in.

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On Friday, Ashley Guindon was sworn in as an officer in the Prince William County Police Department. A day later, she was shot and killed in the line of duty.

Guindon, 28, died during her first shift after she and two other officers — 31-year-
old Jesse Hempen and 33-year-old David McKeown — responded to a call of a domestic disturbance in Woodbridge, Virginia, on Saturday shortly after 5:30 p.m. ET.

As they approached the home, police said they were confronted by Ronald Hamilton, 32, who allegedly opened fire.

Hamilton works as an active duty staff sergeant with the Joint Staff Support Center at the Pentagon.
He surrendered after additional officers arrived on scene, police said.

The three first responders were taken to hospital in critical condition, but Guindon died from her injuries.

"Our sincere condolences go out to Ashley's family and friends, as well as our fellow officers and department staff," police said in a statement Sunday, adding that the department was in "deep mourning."

Prince William County Police Department / Via pwcgov.org

When police conducted a search of the house they also found the body of 29-year-old Crystal Hamilton, the suspect’s wife.

"The investigation revealed that the accused and his wife were involved in a verbal altercation which escalated physically," police said in a statement Sunday. "The wife was able to contact police; however, before officers could arrive, she was allegedly shot and killed by the accused."

An 11-year-old boy was able to flee the home without injury.

Hamilton has been charged with one count of capital murder of a police officer, one count of first degree murder, two counts of malicious wounding of a police officer, and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.


Guindon graduated from the department's basic recruit school in June, according to anannouncement. Previously, she earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Guindon was also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and came from a family of law enforcement officers.

Her grandmother told the Associated Press Guindon's father served with the New Hampshire Air National Guard in Iraq, but committed suicide on his return.

After finishing basic recruit school, Guindon was assigned to patrol in the eastern part of Prince William County.

"This is really a shock to us," grandmother Dorothy Guindon said. "Ashley was such a nice person."

Police said Guindon's murder was only the fourth time an officer in the Prince William County Police Department died in the line of duty, and the second time an officer was killed feloniously.

When asked how the department was coping early Sunday, Prince William County Police Department spokesperson Nathan Probus told BuzzFeed News officers were in shock but focused on investigating what exactly happened at the domestic call.

"I think it's all a matter of shock," he repeated. "And right now our attention is to the family, and then the other officers."

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This happened two miles from My house.

Rest in peace to both those young women.
 
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dang i use to live in Woodbridge and it was a nice town not surprised she was the 4th officer to die in that county. I wonder exactly where in Woodbridge anybody have those details?

another thing that was crazy in that article is her dad committing suicide on his return back from Iraq. Wonder what caused him to do that. Being a veteran myself i had a friend who went to afghan and came back and murdered his family then offed himself after an hour long police chase still dont know why to this day.

I been down range aswell and i believe i am perfectly fine :\
 
I was in Harrisonburg just a couple hours away this weekend and saw this all over the news. Very sad and runs deep since my girl wants to be a police officer. RIP
 
My professor years ago was a former officer and said you should never go to any call relaxed or thinking the worst can't happen. He had a former colleague who went to the same house on a weekly basis over a domestic disputes between husband and wife, never physical just shouting. Then the one time the officer responds to the call he lets his guard down and the husband shot him on their front door step after he shot his wife.

Nonetheless, RIP Ashley Guindon
 
Such a sad story. Forgot where I read it, but someone was saying that domestic disputes are the worst kind of calls to get if you're a police officer.

Every bridge in VA was lined with EMTs, Police Officers, etc. on Sat night.

RIP.
 
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