Virginia Department of Prohibition Enforcement, Virginia
End of Watch Thursday, October 18, 1923
Add to My HeroesJefferson D. Lambert, Jr.
Inspector Lambert was shot and killed while he and a Loudoun County deputy raided a still near Ashburn, Virginia, at approximately 4:30 pm. The two officers snuck up on the still and observed several men kneeling down next to several large barrels. Inspector Lambert called out to the men but two of them fled the scene. The deputy began chasing one of the suspects and fired at him. The deputy heard several shots from the area of the still and stopped chasing the man to return to the scene.
When the deputy reached the still, he was unable to locate Inspector Lambert or any other suspects. Because Inspector Lambert had the key to their vehicle, he had to walk five miles back to Leesburg to alert the sheriff of the situation. The sheriff, along with several deputies and members of Inspector Lambert's family, returned to the scene and located Inspector Lambert's body with two gunshot wounds to the back.
Two suspects were arrested early in the morning at a nearby home, but the shooter fled the house and went to his home in Aldie. He was arrested there later in the day. The suspect was convicted of Inspector Lambert's murder on December 22, 1923 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The deputy sheriff who was with Inspector Lambert was appointed by the state attorney general to replace him as prohibition inspector for Loudoun County on January 1, 1924.
Inspector Lambert had been appointed to the position only 11 months earlier. He was survived by his wife, two sons, three daughters, parents, two sisters, and three brothers. He was interred at Union Cemetery in Leesburg, Virginia.
Bio
- Age 37
- Tour 11 months
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Sentenced to 20 years
Most Recent Reflection
View all 6 ReflectionsYour heroism and service is honored today, the 80th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.
Rest In Peace
Phyllis Loya
Phyllis Loya
mom of fallen officer Larry Lasater
October 18, 2011
Recent LODD Deaths

Lieutenant Jeff Bain
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, AL
EOW: January 3, 2021

Correctional Officer David A. Christensen
Washington State Department of Corrections, WA
EOW: December 29, 2020

Lieutenant John Reynolds
Garden Grove Police Department, CA
EOW: January 17, 2021

Corrections Officer Joseph A. Martini
Ulster County Sheriff's Office, NY
EOW: January 17, 2021

Police Officer Arturo Villegas
Alamo Police Department, GA
EOW: January 10, 2021

Deputy Sheriff Jon Melvin
Grant County Sheriff's Office, WA
EOW: December 11, 2020

Deputy Sheriff Adam Gibson
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: January 18, 2021

Police Officer Brandon Stalker
Toledo Police Department, OH
EOW: January 18, 2021

Police Officer Jay Hughes
Kalispel Tribal Police Department, TR
EOW: January 6, 2021