United States Capitol Police, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Friday, July 24, 1998
Age: 58
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 24, 1998
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Found incompetent
Officer Jacob Chestnut was shot and killed when a suspect entered a main entrance to the United States Capitol and opened fire after walking through a metal detector.
Officer Chestnut was stationed at the entrance of the building and was in the process of writing directions for two tourists when he was shot in the back of the head at point-blank range. The suspect then entered the office of Congressman Tom DeLay.
Detective John Gibson, who was assigned to protect Congressman DeLay, was immediately engaged in a gunfight with the suspect, at which point he was shot. Despite being mortally wounded, Detective Gibson was able to return fire and wounded the suspect.
The suspect was known to the United States Secret Service prior to the incident as a person who had threatened the President of the United States. The suspect was found mentally unfit to stand trial. He remains in the psychiatric center of the Butner Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina.
Officer Chestnut served two tours of duty as a Military Policeman in the Vietnam War. He is survived by his wife and five children.
He is buried in section 4, lot 2764-A of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.