Holder Condemns Killing of Philadelphia Officer

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today condemned last week’s slaying of a Philadelphia police officer — part of a broader statement against anti-police violence.

Officer Robert Wilson III was killed during a gun battle with two robbers at a North Philadelphia GameStop last week; he’d stopped to pick up a present for his son when the robbery occurred. Holder mentioned Wilson’s death in a statement condemning the overnight shooting of two officers in Ferguson, Mo. Both the officers survived.

“I condemn violence against any public safety officials in the strongest terms, and the Department of Justice will never accept any threats or violence directed at those who serve and protect our communities—from this cowardly action, to the killing of an officer in Philadelphia last week while he was buying a game for his son, to the tragic loss of a Deputy U.S. Marshal in the line of duty in Louisiana earlier this week,” Holder said.

Funeral plans for Wilson still have not been announced. A trust fund has been established for Officer Wilson’s family. You can also donate online.

Holder’s full written statement below:

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Attorney General Holder Statement on the Overnight Shooting of Two Officers in Ferguson, Missouri
Attorney General Eric Holder released the following statement Thursday on the overnight shooting of two officers in Ferguson, Missouri:

“This heinous assault on two brave law enforcement officers was inexcusable and repugnant. I condemn violence against any public safety officials in the strongest terms, and the Department of Justice will never accept any threats or violence directed at those who serve and protect our communities—from this cowardly action, to the killing of an officer in Philadelphia last week while he was buying a game for his son, to the tragic loss of a Deputy U.S. Marshal in the line of duty in Louisiana earlier this week. Such senseless acts of violence threaten the very reforms that nonviolent protesters in Ferguson and around the country have been working towards for the past several months. We wish these injured officers a full and speedy recovery. We stand ready to offer any possible aid to an investigation into this incident, including the department’s full range of investigative resources. And we will continue to stand unequivocally against all acts of violence against cops whenever and wherever they occur.”