By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-909241.mp3
Dallas, TX – Hundreds of police, family and friends of slain officer Craig Shaw crowded into Lancaster's First United Methodist Church Wednesday. They remembered the policeman in a vigil that came the same day police released 9-1-1 tapes. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports.
It was a time for remembering and healing. Last Sunday, 37 year old Lancaster police officer Craig Shaw was killed responding to reports of a shooting. He arrived on the scene after gunman David Brown Jr., allegedly shot his first victim, Jeremy McMillian. The young father had just pulled into an apartment parking lot with his family in the car. Brown reportedly then shot Shaw. Eventually, other police killed the gunman, who turned out to be the Dallas Police chief's son.
At the church, no one, including Lancaster Police Chief Keith Humphrey, talked of anger.
Chief Keith Humphrey: I do believe the healing process has started and let me tell you why. In meeting with Shaw family, the McMillian family and conversations with representative for Chief Brown, no one has animosity. Yes tragedy, but all I've heard is we forgive we understand. That's what makes us strong.
Being strong has not been easy these past few days for Shaw's family. But first cousin Trina Howell says the thought of Shaw's strength helps her get through it.
Howell: He was a warrior in his work life and his personal life. We wanted to make sure we were here to show support for police because we appreciate them. Howell says her family also found strength in God.
Howell: We're standing on faith. We're praying for healing. And we know it comes day by day and sticking together as a family is how we're able to move on and make it get through every day. It's hard. It hurts. Hurts really bad, but we don't have any anger. We just have a lot of sadness because we're going to miss him so much.
Chief Humphrey says it was like Shaw to be the first on the scene after the many emergency calls.
911: Somebody got shot. There's a girl screaming out here. She says somebody shot her boyfriend and I saw somebody running with a gun in their hand.
Minutes later, 3 men were dead. Dallas Police Chief Brown has already reached out to the other victims. He said he not only lost a son, but a fellow police officer and private citizen also lost their lives at the hands of his son. He said in a statement he cannot adequately express the sadness in his heart.
The Dallas Sheriff's Department continues its investigation. It's looking into the weapons used, and whether they were legally obtained. Early reports indicate they appear to be. Officials are also awaiting an autopsy and toxicology report. Shaw was Lancaster's first police officer killed in the line of duty.