Widow of Virginia officer sues DOC over staffing shortages linked to her husband’s death.

Dawn Hall, widow of Virginia corrections officer Jeremy Hall, has filed a federal lawsuit against DOC leadership, alleging staffing shortages and deliberate indifference to safety risks led to her husband’s death in November 2025. She is joined by officer Anthony Kellam, who claims the DOC routinely ignored emergencies. The suit seeks injunctive relief, including mandatory safety protocols and staffing standards, but not financial damages. The inmate accused, John Holomon Russell, has been indicted. VADOC declined to comment, citing the ongoing case.