Hundreds mourn slain Del. police officer

Published: Sept. 5, 2009 at 12:13 AM

GEORGETOWN, Del., Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Hundreds of people gathered Friday in a small town in southern Delaware to remember a slain police officer.

Vice President Joseph Biden, who represented Delaware in the Senate for more than 30 years, wept openly during the candlelight vigil for Georgetown Officer Chad Spicer, who was shot dead Tuesday night, the Wilmington News Journal reported. Spicer was the first Delaware police officer to be shot in the line of duty since 1972.

"Let us grieve for Chad," Gov. Jack Markell said, before referring to the officer's 3-year-old daughter. "Then let us honor his legacy by building a world for Aubrey that Chad would have wanted."

Earlier Friday, a second suspect surrendered. Christopher Reeves, 20, of Lincoln, Del., faces charges of resisting arrest and disregarding a police order.

Derrick Powell, 22, of Cumberland, Md., who was arrested shortly after the shooting, has been charged with first-degree murder.

Spicer and Cpl. Shawn Brittingham were responding to a call about a fight at a McDonald's. Powell allegedly fired into the officers' cruiser, hitting Spicer. Brittingham was hit by a piece of metal and injured.

Police said a third man, Luis Flores, who was with Reeves and Powell, tried to help Spicer after the shooting. He has not been charged.

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