Jacob Chestnut

Jacob Chestnut
File:Officer Jacob Chestnut, USCP.png
Born	(1940-04-28)April 28, 1940
Died	Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
Relatives	Gwenling (wife) Janet (daughter) Janece (daughter) Karen (daughter) Joseph (son) William (son)
Awards	Law Enforcement Purple Heart
Police career
Department	United States Capitol Police
Allegiance	Washington, D.C.
Country	United States of America
Years of service	1980 – 1998
Rank	Officer
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.

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, a former member of the Air Force Security Forces.

Murder of Jacob Chestnut
Part of U.S. Capitol shooting incident (1998)
Location	United States Capitol Washington, D.C.
Coordinates
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

References

Honorary titles
Preceded by Claude Pepper	Persons who have lain in state or honor in the United States Capitol rotunda (with John Gibson) July 28, 1998	Succeeded by Ronald Reagan