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NH native officer shot, killed first day on the job in Virginia

A police officer who grew up in New Hampshire was one of two women that were killed in a domestic incident in Prince William County, Virginia Saturday, just southwest of Washington. 

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Police said they responded to a report of a domestic disturbance. Three officers, including Officer Ashley Guindon, approached the door of the home and a man shot all three of them, said police. The officers were taken to a local hospital with critical injuries; Guindon later died.

The suspect's wife, Crystal Hamilton, was later found in the home with fatal gunshot wounds, said police. She was the one who called 911 before her death; an 11-year-old boy was also found inside the home, uninjured.

Guindon had just been sworn in Friday and was on her first shift since returning to the department.

"She clearly had a passion to serve others that went beyond herself," said the Prince William County Police Chief Steve Hudson.

Merrimack Police said Guindon grew up in the town and she graduated from Merrimack High School in 2005.

In her yearbook she wrote, “Live for something rather than die for nothing.” MHS's principal said, "We believe that Ashley not only embraced our motto, she personified it."

The Washington Post is reporting that Guindon went on to graduate from  Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for about six years.

West Springfield Police said that the Guindon is the niece of West Springfield detective Thomas Guindon.

Guindon had interned with the Prince William County police department in between her undergrad and graduate education. She had applied and been accepted to the academy in 2015, but had resigned due to personal reasons. She reapplied this year.

"She said she thought she couldn't get law enforcement out of her blood," said Hudson.

More than 100 patrol cars lined the roads outside early Sunday morning to stand vigil and escort Guindon's body to the medical examiner, reports Fox 5 DC. 

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The two other officers injured in Saturday night's shooting are expected to recover, but were seriously injured. 

An Army staff sergeant assigned to the Pentagon has been arrested for the murders. Authorities in Prince William County said Ronald Hamilton is being held without bond. An Army spokeswoman said Hamilton is an active duty Army staff sergeant assigned to the Joint Staff Support Center at the Pentagon.

Contributing reporting from the Associated Press.

Cox Media Group

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