HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A hostage situation in Hanover County turned deadly when a man shot and killed himself after trapping his ex-wife in her home with him for hours. Investigators later found a “possible connection” between the man and a fire that took place nearby.
Just before 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, a fierce fire tore through a business along Atlee Commons Road. Nobody was injured in that fire, but shortly after, units were called to a house just minutes away on Rapidan Way.
8News crews headed straight to the scene and remained there throughout the day, speaking with neighbors about the situation taking place there.
“This neighborhood doesn’t get a lot of excitement,” said Allie Page, who has lived in the area for around 27 years.
Page said he woke up to his entire street flooded with emergency lights. Just glimpsing at the caution tape and sirens, he could tell this would not be a normal morning for him and his neighbors.
“Some people refer to this neighborhood sometimes as ‘Happy Valley’ or ‘Happyville,’” Page said.
Hanover County Sheriff’s deputies learned that, at around 5 a.m., 47-year-old Cedric Lamont Smith of Henrico County had barricaded himself and his ex-wife inside the home, where she lived with two roommates.
“There were some domestic-related disputes between them,” said Hanover Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Steve Wills. “I believe he came over to discuss some of those issues with her.”
Officials said that the ex-wife’s two roommates escaped shortly after police arrived. Then, Smith poured gasoline around the perimeter of the house and trapped his ex-wife with him inside while police talked with him over the phone and tried to get them both out alive.
After a standoff lasting several hours, Smith released his ex-wife before shooting and killing himself inside the home.
“I’m relieved to hear that the women were okay,” Page said. “I take it — it was a traumatic, a traumatic experience. But yeah, it was good to hear that [they were okay].”
On Tuesday afternoon, the Hanover Sheriff’s Office released a statement which said “a possible connection” had been found between Smith and the fire at the business, where he worked.
