Arrest Made Related to Officer Involved Shooting
Hanover, Va. – The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office has charged an adult male following an officer involved shooting on October 4, 2023. After consultation with the Hanover Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Nathan Dean Hamon, 34, has been charged with one misdemeanor domestic assault and one felony assault on law enforcement.
The incident began at approximately 12:15 p.m. on October 4, 2023, when Hanover County Emergency Communications received a 911 call from the 10300 block of Shellie Lee Drive. The caller stated Mr. Hamon was out of control and physically assaulting several occupants of the residence with a baseball bat as well as kicking and hitting them. The complainant stated another resident called previously several times though their phone was now missing. Hanover Emergency Communications’ call records do not support this; however, the complainant stated deputies needed to hurry up and get there. The complainant continued to provide details of the physical assaults, which were occurring while screaming and yelling could be heard in the background. The complainant also provided information about drug use, which was the catalyst for the assaults. The complainant stated Mr. Hamon claimed to have a firearm, though they had not seen it. At no time did the complainant state Mr. Hamon was in crisis nor were the words mental health ever used to describe Mr. Hamon or his behavior.
The call that Hanover Deputies responded to was appropriately coded as a Disturbance/Nuisance/Fight. Hanover Emergency Communications provided the responding deputies the information about the physical assaults, possible weapons and potential drug use. Deputies were dispatched as information was still being obtained by the 911 call taker. Upon the arrival of the first deputy, he parked in front of the neighboring residence. As the deputy made visual contact with Nathan Hamon, who was in the driveway of his residence, Emergency Communications relayed information that Mr. Hamon had possibly left the residence and his location was unknown. The deputy informed Emergency Communications he was out with the subject. Nathan Hamon was agitated, making verbal threats to kill the deputy while obscuring his right hand behind his back. The deputy began giving verbal commands to Mr. Hamon who was not compliant, while drawing his firearm for his own protection. Mr. Hamon retreated closer to his residence as the deputy continued to give verbal commands. The deputy transitioned to his taser, holstered his firearm, and gave additional commands, at which point Mr. Hamon displayed the knife which he had been obscuring behind his back. As soon as the deputy saw the knife he began to retreat while giving commands with his taser out. Mr. Hamon then began to advance on the deputy at which point, the deputy deployed his taser with negative results. Mr. Hamon physically pulled a taser probe out of his upper torso and continued to advance toward the retreating deputy while still holding a knife and making additional threatening statements. Mr. Hamon then began running to close the distance on the deputy, at which time the deputy drew his firearm again and fired three rounds, two of which struck Mr. Hamon, stopping his advance.
A second deputy arrived on scene just after Mr. Hamon was shot and assisted with detaining him. Deputies requested Hanover Fire and EMS, who had already been dispatched when the notification of shots fired was received over the radio. Deputies then immediately began to assess Mr. Hamon’s injuries and placed a chest seal over a wound to Mr. Hamon’s upper torso. Hanover Fire and EMS arrived on scene just minutes after the shooting and took over life-saving measures before transporting Mr. Hamon to VCU Medical Center.
In consultation with the Hanover Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and due to the pending criminal charges, we will not be releasing the body worn camera footage or the 911 call until the conclusion of the court process. These items are considered evidence in a criminal case and will be preserved as such.
Colonel David R. Hines would like to add, “I fully support and stand behind my officer and his actions. He followed his training, and attempts to de-escalate failed, so he attempted a less lethal option. The deputy was forced to use legal and justifiable force to stop Mr. Hamon’s attack, then successfully provided life-saving care, which he learned through recent combat causality training. It is a tragedy when anyone is injured but the officer was left no choice and that choice was made by Mr. Hamon.”
All evidence and facts related to the investigation have been provided to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. At this point in time, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office has thoroughly examined this case and is not pursuing any charges against the deputy for his actions.
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