United States of America
Headstone of Jacob Joseph Chestnut
Headstone of Jacob Joseph Chestnut
U.S. Air Force · United States United States

Jacob Joseph Chestnut

Died July 24, 1998

Jacob Joseph Chestnut served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. Jacob served in the Vietnam War and the Cold War.

How He Died
Manner Homicide
Cause Gunshot wound
Mechanism Firearm
What Happened

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.

He is buried in section 4, lot 2764-A of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

Media
Jacob Joseph Chestnut
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Headstone Front of Jacob Joseph Chestnut. Arlington National Cemetery.
Headstone Front of Jacob Joseph Chestnut. Arlington National Cemetery. 0 views
Headstone Back of Jacob Joseph Chestnut. Arlington National Cemetery.
Headstone Back of Jacob Joseph Chestnut. Arlington National Cemetery. 0 views

Branch

U.S. Air Force · 1960 – 1980
Service Record
U.S. Air Force
1960 – 1980
Also Served
United States Capitol Police
Officer
Memorials
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Panel 39-W · Line 21 cut as JACOB JOSEPH CHESTNUT
Burial Information
Section 4
Grave 2764-A
  • The cemetery · the exact grave is not yet placed
  • 1 monument carrying the name

Laid nearby · Section 4

4,358 others are held in this section; the nearest 12 by row and grave.

Abbie H OliverGrave 3217-LHA BennettGrave 2719-FAbraham H SiemensGrave 2782-RHAda H ClineGrave 3167-BAdelaide B HudnallGrave 2806-A-WSAdele TraberGrave 3009-CAdeline A StroudGrave 2675Admiral Brinkley TrammellGrave 2739-DAdolphus StatonGrave 280-A-RHAgnes LakeGrave 2642-WSAida G ThayerGrave 2653-WSAileen FelchlinGrave 193
In Our Keeping
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Record added August 2, 2026 neuraweb.nw
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Last updated August 2, 2026

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In tribute

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.

Officer Chestnut gave the United States Capitol Police 18 years.

Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

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