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Vigil honors slain VSP trooper: ‘We lost a great servant, father, husband’

Posted at 10:35 PM, May 29, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-30 00:07:46-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- Just days after Virginia State Police Special Agent Michael Walter was killed in the line of duty, the community and law enforcement agencies from all cross Virginia came together near the area where he was fatally shot in Richmond’s Mosby Court.

“Even though I didn’t know him, I wanted to honor the things that he did for the community,” said 11-year-old Diamond McLain, who lives in Mosby Court.

Those from all over came out for the prayer vigil on Monday evening.

Walter, who served nearly 20 years with Virginia State Police, and a Richmond Police Officer were working together Friday as part of a City and State partnership.

They observed a car parked on the wrong side of the road.

Investigators say Walter went over the passenger’s side, and that’s when police said 27-year-old Travis Ball shot the special agent.

Major Len Terry was assigned at the State Police Academy with Walter for several years.

“The department lost a great man, his wife lost a great husband, his children lost a great father and the community that he lived in lost a valuable, valuable servant,” said Major Terry.

Special Agent Michael T. Walter

Now, many who live in the Mosby community are demanding this kind of violence to stop.

“This is senseless,” said the President of the Mosby Tenant Council. “This man’s life, he was here trying to help us, and it hurts, it really, really hurts to know that someone came into your community trying to help, and this happened to him.”

Participants of the vigil brought candles as well as blue and black balloons that were released in Walter’s honor.

Visitation and a funeral will be held for special agent Walter Saturday, June 3, 2017 at Powhatan High School, located in the 1800 block of Judes Ferry Road. Visitation will last from 10:00 a.m. through 12:00 p.m., while the funeral will begin at 1:00 p.m.

A reception will be held at Powhatan High School, for all those in attendance, immediately following the service.

The burial will be a private graveside service.

If you would like to make a donation in Walter’s memory, you can mail a check to the state police emergency relief fund in his name:

The Virginia State Police Association
Emergency Relief Fund
6944 Forest Hill Avenue
Richmond VA 23225
NOTE: Place “SA Michael Walter” in the memo line

Click here if you would like to make a donation to the fund via PayPal.

All donations to the VSPA-ERF are tax deductible and SA Walter’s family will receive 100% of all contributions.

Depend on WTVR.com and CBS 6 News for continuing coverage of this important local story. 

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