By Police1 Staff
PETERSBURG, Va. — Nearly 3000 mourners were in attendance Tuesday to pay their respects to a slain State trooper, who was known by most as a gentle giant.
Junius A. Walker, 63, was ambushed Thursday in his vehicle on the interstate and died of a gunshot wound.
Officers from as far as Alaska attended his funeral in Petersburg, to trade stories about the humble, quiet officer.
“He was a man of unmistakable integrity, great character, and he was a genuinely kind person,” state police superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty said, according to ABC7. “He was built like a grizzly bear, but he had the disposition of a teddy bear.”
Retired Col. Gerald Massengill recalled Walker’s remarkable kindness when he was investigating a traffic accident that killed a woman’s parents.
“The thing that impressed her the most was J.A. came back to see her after her mother and father had been laid to rest — came to check on her and her family,” Massengill said. “That speaks volumes.”
Russell E. Brown III, 28, of Chesterfield County is charged with capital murder in Walker’s killing, as well as two felony firearms counts and attempted capital murder for firing at a second trooper. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.