BY STEPHANIE NAZZARO, The Associated Press
ALEXANDRIA, VA. (AP) -- The wife of Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff James H. Dunning was murdered, police confirmed today.
Nancy Dunning died from a gunshot wound to the upper body, said Lt. John Crawford of the Alexandria Police Department, which is separate from the Sheriff’s Department.
Dunning, 56, was found by a family member in her home on Mount Ida Avenue in the Del Ray section of Alexandria just after 12:30 p.m. Friday.
At first, the death was attributed to medical reasons. But upon arriving at the home, a medical examiner’s team said the death appeared suspicious. An autopsy today determined Dunning was a homicide victim.
“We’re looking for a killer now,” said Crawford. Detectives will interview family members, friends, and neighbors in an effort to reconstruct Dunning’s final 24 hours, he said.
The death has shocked the Del Ray community, where Dunning lived for almost 30 years and worked as a real estate agent for the last 16 years. Many credit her with building the neighborhood into one of the most desirable in northern Virginia.
“Nancy Dunning and Del Ray go hand in hand,” said Joyce Woodson, a real estate colleague and a longtime family friend. “She was the one who made it what it is today.”
Woodson said neighbors are shaken, and assume it was a random attack.
“She (Dunning) doesn’t have enemies. Her husband doesn’t have enemies,” said Woodson.
Sheriff Dunning has held that position since 1986. In Alexandria, the Sheriff’s Department operates the adult detention center, provides courthouse and courtroom security, executes court orders and transports prisoners, among other tasks.
Published reports say Dunning was to have had lunch with her husband and son, Chris, Friday afternoon, and that one or both of them went to the house when she failed to show up. Lt. Crawford declined to confirm those reports.
She is also survived by a daughter, Elizabeth.
Woodson said Dunning will likely be honored at the annual Del Ray Christmas tree lighting on Monday.