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

1998

Jacob Joseph Chestnut served 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.
Keepsakes
Jacob Joseph Chestnut
Jacob Joseph Chestnut
Headstone Front of Jacob Joseph Chestnut. Arlington National Cemetery.
Headstone Front of Jacob Joseph Chestnut. Arlington National Cemetery.
Headstone Back of Jacob Joseph Chestnut. Arlington National Cemetery.
Headstone Back of Jacob Joseph Chestnut. Arlington National Cemetery.
Service Record
U.S. Air Force
1960 – 1980
Also Served
United States Capitol Police
Officer
Burial Information
Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery
Section 4
Grave 2764-A
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier neuraspine_01krbxtqj9zpfakp1wg51ynf7x
Record added August 2, 2026 neuraweb.nw
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Last updated August 2, 2026

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