HANOVER COUNTY, Va. -- A man is dead after a hostage situation and warehouse fire in Hanover County on Tuesday morning.
The man, 47-year-old Cedric Lamont Smith, who investigators said held his estranged wife hostage and was also a suspect in the fire, shot and killed himself around 9:30 a.m.
Hanover Fire crews were called to the commercial warehouse fire along the 9800 block of Atlee Commons Drive just before 5 a.m. Tuesday.
While fire crews battled the warehouse fire, another emergency call came in from a nearby home on Rapidan Way.
It was determined that the emergency call involved a hostage situation where at least one person was being held against their will, according to the Hanover Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators later said Smith kicked in the door of the home on Rapidan Way and poured gasoline inside the home.
The man, investigators said, allowed two roommates in the home to leave, but held his 30-year-old ex-wife against her will.
"[He] was potentially armed with a firearm according to the witnesses, they left and called us. That’s how all of this initiated this morning," Hanover Sheriff's Office Sgt. Steve Wills stated.
It is believed he was also wearing body armor.
Sheriff's deputies and members of the SWAT team eventually escorted the woman to safety, at about 9:30 a.m. Smith then shot and killed himself, investigators said.
"We were able to establish phone communication with him pretty quickly upon getting on scene," Sgt. Wills said. “Our biggest priority was maintaining that line of communication and hoping to get him to come out peacefully and give up. Unfortunately, it ended in a different way today. Fortunately, the victim did come out, unfortunately he did not.”
Sgt. Wills said Smith and the woman he held hostage were estranged. He had lived at the property where this happened previously, and there had been a domestic disturbance call there in November.
Investigators later concluded that Smith was potentially connected to the fire at the commercial property on Atlee Commons Drive.
Hanover County Fire Marshalls are continuing this investigate this fire as well.
"According to employees that he worked with, coworkers, he was a well-liked, mild-mannered individual. So, we’re not really sure what precipitated the chain of events that occurred today other than they were estranged and no longer dating," Wills said.
Sgt. Wills said Smith was an employee who worked in the warehouse that burned.
Here's what we know about the warehouse fire:
- Fire crews were called to the 9800 block of Atlee Commons Drive at about 5 a.m.
- About eight businesses were impacted by the warehouse fire
- Crews performed vertical ventilation, cutting a hole in the roof of the building so heat and smoke to exit out of the top
- No one was hurt in the fire
- The cause of the fire is under investigation
Allie Page and his family have lived nearby in the neighborhood for nearly three decades. Typically, the main commotion there is the drone of private aircraft from the nearby airport, not SWAT vehicles.
“When I looked down there and saw the armed car that had sheriff’s office on the side of it, I was like uh oh, probably a domestic situation that’s not good," Page said.
Page said sadly things like this happen in neighborhoods everywhere, so he still feels safe. Page does see one silver lining in the horrible situation down the road: none of the people living at the home — including the woman taken hostage — were physically harmed.
"Particularly for the women who were in that situation, I know it was very traumatic, and I’m glad they’re okay," Page said.
Hanover County Sheriff David Hines released the following statement regarding the incident:
I want to thank the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office for their professionalism and dedication to this community. I also would like to thank Hanover County Fire and EMS for their assistance and professionalism in handling a dangerous HAZMAT situation. Further, I want to express my gratitude to the Richmond Police Department for their partnership and resources they provided. Finally, I want to express my sincere appreciation to those in the community who were affected by today’s events. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this tragic incident.
The incident remains under investigation.
If you have any information about this incident you are asked to contact the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office at (804) 365-6140 or the Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
You can also download the “P3 Tips” app for their mobile device to submit their tip. Both Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.
