On the second anniversary of the death of Ashley Guindon on her first police call, the county's commonwealth's attorney says the trial of the man accused of killing her and his wife, and wounding two other officers, is set for August.
WASHINGTON — Two years ago Tuesday, Officer Ashley Guindon was just hours into her first shift as a Prince William County police officer when she was gunned down during a domestic call in Woodbridge, Virginia. She was 28.
Two other officers were severely wounded: Officer Jesse Hempen returned to the force in June 2016; Officer David McKeown has returned to work, but a police spokesman said he is not yet back to full duty.
Ronald Hamilton, a former U.S. Army staff sergeant who did two tours of duty in Iraq, is charged in the shooting of the officers, as well as the death of his wife, Crystal Hamilton, in the same incident. His capital murder trial had been scheduled for last summer; it’s now set for Aug. 13.
Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert said Hamilton’s lawyers have “filed a number of motions. We have a motion at least once a month, and a number of hearings before the court.”
Ebert has been the commonwealth’s attorney in Prince William County since 1968, and he is known for seeking the death penalty.
Ashley Guindon (second from left) is pictured with friends at the Police Academy Graduation.
(Courtesy Stephanie Guindon)
Courtesy Stephanie Guindon
Prince William County police officer Ashley Guindon.
(Prince William County Police via AP)
Prince William County Police via AP
“Ashley was a daughter, veteran, squad mate and friend,” Police Chief Barry Barnard posted on Facebook.
(Courtesy Stephanie Guindon)
Courtesy Stephanie Guindon
Police stand outside Sacred Heart Church for the funeral of Prince William County, Va., Police Officer Ashley Guindon, Monday, March 7, 2016, in Springfield, Mass. Guindon, 28, a Springfield native, was killed during her first shift on the job Feb. 27 while responding to a domestic dispute in Woodbridge, Va.
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
AP Photo/Elise Amendola
Sharon Guindon, bottom center, mother of slain Prince William County, Va., Police Officer Ashley Guindon, leads mourners out of Sacred Heart Church after her funeral, Monday, March 7, 2016, in Springfield, Mass. Guindon, 28, a Springfield native, was killed during her first shift on the job Feb. 27 while responding to a domestic dispute in Woodbridge, Va.
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
AP Photo/Elise Amendola
Sharon Guindon, top center, mother of Prince William County, Va. Police Officer Ashley Guindon, follows her daughter’s casket out of Sacred Heart Church, Monday, March 7, 2016, in Springfield, Mass. Guindon, 28, a Springfield native, was killed during her first shift on the job Feb. 27 while responding to a domestic dispute in Woodbridge, Va.
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
AP Photo/Elise Amendola
The photo shows Ashley Guindon at her graduation.
(Courtesy Stephanie Guindon)
Courtesy Stephanie Guindon
Police salute the casket of Prince William County, Va., Police Officer Ashley Guindon, as pallbearers exit Sacred Heart Church, Monday, March 7, 2016, in Springfield, Mass. Guindon, 28, a Springfield native, was killed during her first shift on the job Feb. 27 while responding to a domestic dispute in Woodbridge, Va.
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
AP Photo/Elise Amendola
A multi-jurisdiction police honor guard, from Baltimore, Md., marches at the Hylton Memorial Chapel for the funeral of Prince William County, Va. Police Officer Ashley Guindon, in Woodbrige, Va., Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Guindon was shot and killed, on her first day of work for Prince William County, when she responded to a domestic dispute in Woodbridge on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016.
(AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
AP Photo/Cliff Owen
Wilmington, Del., Police Officers salute as an honor guard passes by for the funeral of Prince William County Police Officer Ashley Guindon at the Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbrige, Va., Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Guindon was shot and killed, on her first day of work for Prince William County, when she responded to a domestic dispute in Woodbridge on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016.
(AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
AP Photo/Cliff Owen
A candlelight vigil was held for Prince William County officer Ashley Guindon at the Sean T. Connaughton Community Plaza in Woodbridge, Va. on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016.
(WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
WTOP/Kathy Stewart
This undated photo provided by the U.S. Marine Corps shows Ashley Guindon, a Prince William County, Va. Police Department officer killed last Saturday night in the quadruple shooting in Woodbridge, Va.
(U.S. Marine Corps via AP)
Investigators said the three officers were shot while answering a 911 call Crystal Hamilton; they believe she was killed before police arrived.
Ronald Hamilton is also charged with two counts of malicious wounding, two firearms charges and one count of endangering the life of a child. The Hamiltons’ 11-year-old son was in the home during the incidents. He wasn’t hurt, and is in the care of other family members.
“It’s just one of those sad cases,” Ebert said. “It’s unfortunate that she had to lose her life and we’re hopeful that justice is done.”
Ebert is also hopeful the jury trial will get underway this summer. “As far as I’m concerned it will,” he said, “but you never can tell.”
