Law enforcement officers came from all over the country -- some fromas far away as California and Alaska -- in a great showof support for their peers. Sgt. Dale Keenum of the NC State HighwayPatrol said Lowry had dedicated his career to helping others.
Marilyn Wurtz, a friend of the Lowry family, said there is a great dealof support in the community for the families left behind.
The NC Highway Patrol and Cumberland County Sheriff's Department havebeen handing out black ribbons with star medallions on them since theshooting happened. Many in the community are wearing the ribbons in a showof support and respect for law enforcement
It was the first of two services in this city Friday. At 2p.m., many of the same mourners returned to the Civic Center for thefuneral of Deputy David Hathcock -- killed during the same incident thattook Lowry's life. Hathcock had touched the lives of many people throughhis work. During the afternoon service, a chaplain with the CumberlandCounty Sheriff's Office said Hathcock had undoubtedly moved on into thehonor guard of heaven.
there were more than 2,000 persons, many of them troopers, policeofficers, deputies and military personnel, present at Hathcock's service.Hathcock was a 20-year veteran of the sherrif's department. He has leftbehind a wife and three sons. Cumberland County Commissioner Lee Warrenspoke at the funeral.
Hathcock had responded to Lowry's call for help Tuesday because hehappened to be nearby. Ordinarily, his duties were to deliver civil papersto county residents. N.C. Lt. Governor Dennis Wicker told mourners thatHathcock displayed tremendous courage.
Reverend Paul Keeter, Hathcock's pastor, called Hathcock a guardianangel in uniform. Many others who had attended both funerals agreed thatit was a lot to take in one day.
At the beginning of Hathcock's service, there was an unusual round ofapplause when Sheriff Earl "Moose" Butler announced that there was a
eyewitness to theshooting incident in attendance. That man came close tolosing his own life in an attempt to get help for Lowry and Hathcock andin his effort to lead authorities to the suspects. The huge crowd of lawenforcement officers got to their feet to give Ron Waters a standingovation.
The shooting took place at midday Tuesday, after Lowry called forbackup when a routine traffic stop turned bad. Cumberland County DeputyDavid Hathcock responded. After an attack with an automatic rifle and ahigh speed car chase, the two officers lay dead near their cruisers andtwo teenaged brothers from South Carolina were captured and jailed.
School administrators released some students early because of the twofunerals. The students were released from classes two hours earlyat affected schools are in the Hope Mills area.
Photographers:Mike JoynerandRick Allen
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
