One of three Prince William County police officers shot responding to a domestic violence call Saturday night in Woodbridge has died. It was Officer Ashley Guindon’s first day on the job.
A woman who lives at the house in the 13000 block of Lashmere Court off Ridgefield Boulevard was also shot and killed during the incident, which began at 5:37 p.m. as a domestic shooting call. A suspect is in custody. The two other injured officers are being treated at an area trauma center.
Officer Guindon, 29, had formerly been a police officer and had just returned to law enforcement after taking some time off, Prince William Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart said Saturday night. She was sworn in yesterday.
“This is just absolutely tragic,” Stewart said. “It just reinforces how dangerous it is to be a police officer. There was a domestic dispute and those are the most dangerous calls you can go on as an officer.”
“This is just a very sad day in the county and for the community,” Stewart said.
On Facebook Friday, Prince William police posted a photo of Officer Guindon and another officer sworn in that day, wishing them “safety, success and long careers” with the police force.
Stewart said police believe the woman killed inside the home was dead when officers arrived.
Neighbors said the family who lives there has a 10-year-old son who was home at the time. He was physically unharmed and being cared for at the police station late Saturday.
What a tragic, sickening flow of events. A young woman is sworn in as a police officer and the next day she is killed answering a call. I am sure Officer Guindon got up, ready to start a new job, with all the excitement any of us starting a new job would have. I am sure Officer Guindon expected to come home this evening–except she won’t. Two other officers started their day like any other day. They too expected to return home at the end of the day. They are hospitalized.
Being a police officer is dangerous work. It often involves dealing with unstable, emotional people or at times, with people who simply don’t have our value system. Yet some of us expect our officers to have super human insight and judgement at all times. Some of us ask the impossible.
There are simply no condolences that can be offered to the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Guidon. Her death is tragic and senseless. We have no idea of the condition of the other officers who were shot and wounded. We wish them a speedy and complete recovery.
There is yet another victim–the woman who lived in the house. She is dead. There is a ten-year old boy who is unharmed, physically at least. The shooter is in custody.
A special thank you to all of our officers in Prince William County as well as the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park for risking life and limb to keep us safe. You are all in the hearts of our family today as a community grieves.
Amen.
The squad that was working in that part of town last night is near and dear to me. This is heartbreaking.
What a horrible thing! I’m actually crying, thinking of this
young woman losing her life – and those who love her are left mourning.
How it must hurt. I’m both mad and sad.
Emma, I hope those near and dear to you are safe. I was hoping you would stop by the blog so I could express that to you.
It is situations like that that we should be spending our time and efforts in order to prevent.
How tragic and sad.
Thank you, Moon. They are safe, but very sad today and worried about the wounded officers.@MoonHowler
Please keep us apprised of their recovery.
@Emma
Our hearts and prayers are out to all D squad central and the entire PWCPD community.
A terrible tragedy.
I am very sorry to hear about this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the boy, the wounded officers, and the families of all involved.
The suspect is an active duty soldier assigned to the pentagon.
Story from Washington Post. The comments are just indescribably ignorant.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/no-bond-for-man-accused-of-fatally-shooting-his-wife-in-prince-william/2016/02/29/b01b81e0-de70-11e5-846c-10191d1fc4ec_story.html?hpid=hp_local-news_pwpolice-930am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory
http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/29/prince-william-police-light-up-the-sky-with-tribute-to-fallen-officer-ashley-guindon-video/
Thank you for the video. That was quite the tribute. RIP, Officer Guindon.