Jacob Chestnut

Jacob Chestnut
Born	(1940-04-28)April 28, 1940
Died	July 24, 1998(1998-07-24) (aged 58) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. 38.880000°N 77.070000°W / 38.880000; -77.070000
Relatives	Gwenling (wife) Janet (daughter) Janece (daughter) Karen (daughter) Joseph (son) William (son)
Police career
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	Washington, D.C.
Department	United States Capitol Police
Service years	1980 – 1998
Rank	Officer
Awards	Law Enforcement Purple Heart
Memorials	Jacob Joseph Chestnut Post Office Building 11550 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, Maryland (1998)

Jacob Joseph Chestnut (April 28, 1940 – July 24, 1998), one of the two United States Capitol Police officers killed in the line of duty on July 24, 1998, was the first African American to lie in honor in the United States Capitol. Chestnut is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His funeral included a speech by President Bill Clinton and a fly-over by military jets in a missing man formation.

Officer Jacob Chestnut was on guard at the Document Door entrance to the U.S. Capitol when gunman Russell Eugene Weston Jr. entered. Chestnut, manning a metal detector, was caught unaware of Weston, who shot Chestnut through the back of the head at point-blank range, killing him instantly.

Officer Chestnut and fellow police officer Detective John Gibson were the only two people killed in the attack. A female tourist suffered minor injuries after bullets grazed her shoulder and face.

Chestnut retired as a master sergeant from the United States Air Force after 20 years of service in the Air Force Security Forces. His career included two tours in Vietnam.

Legacy

In 1998, the House of Representatives passed a motion to designate a post office at 11550 Livingston Road in Oxon Hill, Maryland as the "Jacob Joseph Chestnut Post Office Building".

In 2000, the building housing the United States Air Force's 20th Security Forces Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina was dedicated to Chestnut.

Murder of Jacob Chestnut
Part of U.S. Capitol shooting incident (1998)
Location	United States Capitol Washington, D.C.
Coordinates	38°53′23″N 77°0′32″W
Date	July 24, 1998 (1998-07-24) 3:40 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (EST)
Attack type	Shooting
Weapons	.38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver
Deaths	Two: Jacob Chestnut, John Gibson
Injured	Three: Angela Dickerson (tourist), Douglas McMillian (USCP officer), Russell Eugene Weston Jr.
Perpetrator	Russell Eugene Weston, Jr.

See also

• United States Capitol shooting incident (1998)
• John Gibson
• Lying in repose
• State funeral