Suicide During Arrest: Suspect Under 13-Month Child Porn Investigation

Video credit: Rosie Lee Ellyson

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

A suspect died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday morning as federal agents executed search and arrest warrants at the close of a nearly 13-month-long child pornography investigation.

Prince William County Police have identified the suspect as Douglas Clayton Lewis, a resident of Covington Place in the Manassas area of Prince William County.

"As federal agents approached the home, they encountered the suspect exiting the residence. The suspect ignored commands by the agents and fled down an alleyway in between two townhomes," Perok said in a press release. "Agents confronted the suspect in the alleyway, at which point, he brandished a handgun and pointed it towards the agents."

One of the agents shot Lewis in the lower body before he ran behind a fence and allegedly shot himself in the head, according to police spokesperson Officer Jonathan Perok.

Detectives from the department's Violent Crimes Bureau are investigating the death. The shooting marked the end of a nearly 13-month federal child pornography investigation, according to court documents, which was supposed to end with the arrest of a man whose neighbors thought he was "quiet, nice, kind," even if he kept to himself. 

On July 9, 2012, a federal agent received a copy of an extremely graphic child pornography file, according to a criminal complaint filed by in federal court Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations Agent Sherman Wooden. The IP address was associated with Lewis' address. 

The agent tied several more graphic sexual videos involving minors to the IP address over the next several months, according to the complaint. 

Agents raided Lewis' house on October 18, 2012. They seized over 800 pieces of equipment and found approximately 50 suspected child pornography images and 157 suspected child pornography videos, the complaint alleges. 

Lewis was home during the search and "admitted possessing and downloading child pornography files," according to the document. He told agents that there would be more on several computers and hard drives.  

After the raid, Lewis continued to live at the house, devoting his time to his antique gun collection and computer, according to neighbors. 

More:

Suspect Who Died After Gunfire Exchange Had Home Raided Last Fall — Federal authorities seized computers during the raid last October, neighbors said.

Police: Self-Inflicted Gunshot Killed Suspect Fleeing Arrest — Suspect pointed a handgun at agents during chase, fled around a corner before shooting himself, according to Prince William County Police.
Stay with Patch with more information on this story as it develops. 

Jamie Rogers and Greg Hambrick contributed to this report.