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Nearly 3,000 attend funeral for slain Va. trooper

Tuesday - 3/12/2013, 1:09pm  ET

Mourners listen to speakers during the funeral for Virginia State Trooper Junius A. Walker, at the Good Shepherd Baptist Church for the funeral of Trooper Walker in Petersburg, Va., Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Walker was gunned down during a traffic stop last week. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

LARRY O'DELL
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Slain Virginia State Police Master Trooper Junius A. Walker was remembered at his funeral as a dedicated public servant whose imposing size was offset by a gentle spirit.

A capacity crowd of nearly 3,000 people, including police officers from as far away as Alaska, attended Tuesday's services for the 63-year-old Walker at Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Petersburg.

Col. Steven Flaherty, superintendent of the state police, was one of the speakers. He described Walker as a man of integrity who was built like a grizzly bear but had the disposition of a teddy bear.

Walker was shot to death Thursday on Interstate 85 in Dinwiddie County. Prosecutors say they'll seek the death penalty against 28-year-old Russell E. Brown III, who is charged with killing Walker and shooting at another trooper.


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