HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect involved in early morning arson and hostage situation on Rapidan Way.
According to the sheriff’s office, the suspect who took his own life after an hours-long standoff with police is 47-year-old Cedric Lamont Smith of Henrico County.
Deputies responded to 10427 Rapidan Way at about 5:12 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan 23 after receiving a call from a 30-year-old woman, who said her “estranged husband” had entered the property, according to the sheriff’s office. Additional 9-1-1 calls were made by her two roommates, who were also inside the home at the time.
At the scene, a sheriff’s office spokesperson said the man had poured gasoline around the home before barricading himself and the victim inside. Witnesses described Smith as wearing “makeshift” body armor.
Once they arrived at Rapidan Way, deputies began to communicate with Smith, who allowed the two roommates to leave.
Additional units from the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, as well as the Crisis Negotiation Team, arrived soon after. They would continue to communicate with Smith for hours, until about 9:30 a.m., when he released the victim.