Army sergeant accused of killing wife, Pr. William officer, held without bond
Army sergeant accused of killing wife, Pr. William officer, held without bond
(about 5 hours later)
The Army staff sergeant accused of killing a Prince William County police officer, wounding two others and fatally shooting his wife over the weekend was held without bond Monday after being arraigned.
The Army staff sergeant accused of killing a Prince William County police officer, wounding two others and fatally shooting his wife over the weekend was held without bond Monday after being arraigned.
Ronald Williams Hamilton, 32, appeared at two brief arraignment hearings in Prince William County via a video feed from the local jail. One was for his wife’s killing, the other for the attack on the officers.
Ronald Williams Hamilton, 32, appeared at two brief arraignment hearings in Prince William County via a video feed from the local jail. One was about his wife’s killing, the other about the attack on the officers, which left Officer Ashley Guindon, 28, dead on her first day on street patrol after joining the department.
Hamilton only spoke to answer the judges’ questions. He was flanked by sheriff’s deputies during both hearings.
Hamilton, flanked by a half-dozen sheriff’s deputies, wore an orange jumpsuit and spoke only to answer the judges’ questions. Hamilton, who was stationed at the Pentagon and worked in information technology, did not enter a plea, and prosecutors offered no motive for the killings.
It also came to light Monday that Saturday’s violent encounter was not Hamilton’s first. In 2006, Hamilton was charged with aggravated assault after pulling a handgun on a man during a dispute in a parking lot in Montgomery County, Tenn., according to charging documents.
It also came to light Monday that Saturday’s violent encounter was not Hamilton’s first. In 2006, Hamilton was charged with aggravated assault after pulling a handgun on a man during a dispute in a parking lot in Tennessee, according to charging documents.
The victim in that case confronted Hamilton after he believed that Hamilton had driven too close to his girlfriend in the parking lot, according to charging documents. A shouting match ensued and Hamilton allegedly retrieved a handgun from his car.
The victim in that case confronted Hamilton because he thought that Hamilton had driven too close to his girlfriend in the parking lot, according to the documents. A shouting match ensued, and Hamilton allegedly retrieved a handgun from his car.
Hamilton told the victim that the weapon “ain’t no pellet gun” and inserted a magazine, according to charging documents. Hamilton eventually got back in his car and left, and the victim called the police.
Hamilton told the victim that the weapon “ain’t no pellet gun” and inserted a magazine, an officer reported. Hamilton eventually got back in his car and left, and the victim called the police.
Prince William County prosecutor Paul Ebert referenced that charge during one of the arraignments Monday. Ebert said after the hearings that Hamilton was put in a pre-trial diversion program for 11 months in lieu of going to trial in that case.
Prince William County prosecutor Paul Ebert referred to that charge during one of the arraignments Monday. Hamilton was placed in a pretrial diversion program for 11 months and was never convicted of the charge.
Judges set hearings on the charges for April 18 and 19.
Separately, Prince Williampolice announced that Guindon’s funeral would be held Tuesday at noon at Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge. The service will be open to the public and will begin with a viewing at 10 a.m.
According to charging documents, three Prince William police officers who were responding Saturday to a call about a domestic dispute went to Hamilton’s front door, where they were met by him.
Charging documents made public in Prince William on Monday also revealed new details about the encounter that led to Guindon’s death. Guindon and two other county officers responded to a report of a domestic dispute Saturday evening at Hamilton’s Woodbridge home in the 13000 block of Lashmere Court.
Hamilton then opened fire from “the area of the front door,” striking all three officers, the documents say.
The charging documents say the officers advanced to the front door, where they were met by Hamilton. Hamilton then opened fire from “the area of the front door,” striking all three officers, the documents say.
[Man charged in killing of Va. officer is Army staff sergeant at Pentagon]
[Man charged in killing of Va. officer is Army staff sergeant at Pentagon]
Officer Ashley Guindon died a short time later from her wounds. Two other officers remain hospitalized but are expected to recover.
Guindon died of her wounds a short time later. Officers Jesse Hempen and David McKeown, who remained hospitalized Monday, are expected to recover, authorities said.
Funeral services for Guindon will be held Tuesday at Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge.
Additional officers then surrounded Hamilton’s home, and he surrendered without further incident, police said. After being taken into custody, charging documents say Hamilton acknowledged to police that he shot the officers and his 29-year-old wife, Crystal Hamilton.
Charging documents said that after he was taken into custody, Hamilton acknowledged to police that he shot the officers and his wife, Crystal Hamilton. Her body was found in a bedroom in the Hamiltons’ house, according to charging documents.
Police found Crystal Hamilton’s body in a bedroom, according to the charging documents.
During the arraignments, judges appointed Capital Defender Edward J. Ungvarsky to represent Hamilton on all charges.
During the arraignments Monday, judges appointed Capital Defender Edward J. Ungvarsky to represent Hamilton on all six charges he faces, including murder of a law enforcement officer and first-degree murder in the killing of his wife.
Ungvarsky told the judge that Hamilton was rescinding the permission he gave to authorities to review his medical and military records. Ungvarsky also requested a gag order in the case, but the judge told him he would have to file a motion.
Ungvarsky told the judge that Hamilton was rescinding the permission he gave to authorities to review his medical and military records. Ungvarsky also requested a gag order in the case, but the judge told him that he would have to file a motion. Ungvarsky declined to comment afterward.
After the hearing, Ebert said it had been a difficult couple of days for the Prince William police department.
Outside court, Ebert said he was still considering whether to pursue the death penalty against Hamilton, who would otherwise face the possibility of life in prison if convicted on the most serious charges. Ebert said it had been a difficult couple of days for the Prince William County police.
“It’s an officer’s worst nightmare to go on a routine call and end up dead,” Ebert said. “It’s taken a toll on everyone. There are very few dry eyes in that department.”
“It’s an officer’s worst nightmare to go on a routine call and end up dead,” Ebert said. “It’s taken a toll on everyone. There are very few dry eyes in that department.”
Guindon had been sworn in as an officer the day before, and Saturday was her first day on the street. Her slaying was only the second malicious killing of an officer in the history of the Prince William police department.
Guindon had been sworn in as an officer on Friday, before setting out on her first patrol Saturday. Her slaying was only the second malicious killing of an officer in the history of the Prince William police department.
Ebert had said that he would most likely pursue the death penalty against Hamilton, who is facing a total of six charges, including capital murder of a police officer, first-degree murder and two counts of malicious wounding of a police officer.
The hearings on Monday followed a solemn Sunday-night vigil for Guindon that was attended by more than 500.
The incident began around 5:40 p.m. Saturday when the officers responded to a house in the 13000 block of Lashmere Court in Woodbridge. Prince William Police Chief Stephan M. Hudson said Ronald and Crystal Hamilton had been involved in a day-long verbal altercation that turned physical.
At the vigil, Prince William County Supervisor Martin E. Nohe (R-Coles) praised Guindon’s sacrifice, saying her efforts may have saved the life of the Hamiltons’ 11-year-old son, who fled the home during the encounter.
Police said that Crystal Hamilton called 911, but that her husband fatally shot her before officers arrived. The couple’s 11-year-old son was home during the altercation and fled at some point, police said. He was not injured.
“I believe that that child may well be alive today because Ashley had the courage to ensure that that family got the intervention they needed,” Nohe said. “And unfortunately, it led to her death.”
Guindon’s death drew an outpouring of sympathy from law enforcement professionals across the nation. The county police department had just sworn her in Friday and tweeted a photo of Guindon and another new recruit with a message: “Be safe!”
Dana Hedgpeth and Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report.
Twenty-four hours later, on her first day on the street, she was one of the three officers responding to the incident with Hamilton.
Guindon was remembered as someone who put “service above self,” as her former professor Chris Bonner put it. She was described as passionate about police work, determined to succeed and intelligent. She was a Marine Corps Reserve veteran and a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla.
“It’s the worst nightmare that could happen to any police officer and her family,” said Bonner.
It also was not the first tragedy Guindon’s family had suffered while in uniform. Guindon’s father, an Air National Guardsman, committed suicide in 2004, one day after returning from a tour in Iraq.
A viewing is planned for Guindon at 10 a.m. Tuesday, and a service is scheduled for noon. The services are open to the public, officials said, but space is limited. Officials said they would like to give priority to law enforcement and government officials.
The wounded officers — Jesse Hempen, 31, and David McKeown, 33, are eight- and 10-year veterans of the force, respectively. The nature of their wounds has not been disclosed.
Police said they were investigating whether Hamilton shot from inside or outside the house and the position of the officers when they were struck. It’s also unclear how many shots were fired or whether officers returned fire.
Officials said additional officers arrived at the scene and surrounded the house. Hamilton surrendered without further incident, and Hudson said they found Crystal Hamilton’s body inside. The wounded officers were flown to Fairfax Inova Hospital, where Guindon died, Hudson said.
At some point during the incident, Zacarius Harris, 18, a neighbor, said he saw the Hamiltons’ son running away from the house, wearing a T-shirt and basketball shorts. He was looking back at the house as he ran down the street. The boy ended up at a neighbor’s house and is now in the care of family.
“He ran so fast I can’t even imagine how scared he must have been,” Harris said. “It broke my heart.”
The alleged gunman’s father, Ronald Whaley Hamilton, a retired major with the Charleston Police Department in South Carolina, said over the weekend that his son had a “very good upbringing.” The elder Hamilton said his son joined the Army at age 18 and worked in information technology.
“We are grieving the same as all the people in Prince William County, as well as the law enforcement community across the United States,” Hamilton said. “Ronald has always been a calm person and a very friendly person. He had a bright future with the Army and military. We express our thoughts and condolences to everyone who is affected.”
Hamilton described his daughter-in-law Crystal Hamilton, 29, as a “kind, humble, energetic and wonderful person” who worked with wounded soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. He said that she and his son met after high school in South Carolina.
Ebert said officers recovered two guns from the scene, a high-powered rifle and a .45-caliber handgun. Ebert did not know whether one or both were used in the shooting, but he said they were not U.S. military weapons.
Ebert and police said they could not comment on whether there had been previous calls to the Hamilton home. Officer Jonathan Perok, a Prince William police spokesman, said the initial 911 call came in as a domestic dispute. There were no reports of shots fired.
Guindon, 28, entered the academy for Prince William police in January 2015 and graduated in June. She left the academy before coming back this year.
“She couldn’t get it out of her blood,” Hudson said. “She clearly had a passion to serve others.”
During a vigil Sunday night, more than 500 people packed the Sean Connaughton Plaza for the ceremony honoring Guindon. A giant American flag hung over the plaza, draped from two fire department ladders. And Guindon’s police cruiser was draped in black bunting at the county police headquarters.
Outside Crystal Hamilton’s home, friends erected a memorial over the weekend. Flowers, candles and a teddy bear framed a posterboard of photos.
One of Crystal Hamilton’s best friends, Shayna Colunga, said Hamilton shared a special bond with her son. They’d planned to go to Red Lobster to celebrate his birthday, but their plans were interrupted by Wednesday’s severe weather.
“That was her munchkin. She called him her munchkin, her best friend,” Colunga said.
Hawla Donley, another friend, said Crystal Hamilton had been getting over a cold, so Donley checked in with her Saturday morning. Donley wanted to make sure her friend was still up for a girls’ night out, planned for the evening.
Hamilton’s text back read:
“I’m not 100% but I’m alive and will make it,” followed by a smile emoji.
Frederick Kunkle, Lynh Bui, Faiz Siddiqui, Ian Shapira and Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report.
