The legacy of a slain San Diego police officer who bought a meal for a child right before he was shot will live on, San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said Friday.
She and other city and SDPD representatives spoke at a remembrance service for Officer Jeremy Henwood, who was mortally wounded four years ago Friday. The event took place at a park in City Heights named after the four-year veteran and Marine reservist.
"Yes, his legacy will live on, in the values, positive attitude, highest of standards, dedication and pride of wearing our San Diego police uniform that he instilled in our police officers and in the countless community members' lives that he touched," Zimmerman said.
Henwood purchased a meal for a youngster at the McDonalds at 3879 Fairmount Ave., got back in his car and was stopped at a red light in a marked police cruiser when a suicidal young man pulled up alongside him on University Avenue at 45th Street and opened fire with a .12-gauge shotgun.
The 36-year-old Canadian-born officer, who served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, died in a hospital early the next day.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer called Henwood "a San Diego hero."
About a half-hour after Henwood was mortally wounded, police shot and killed the assailant when he allegedly reached for the weapon after they confronted him near his apartment, a few blocks from the site of the slaying.
McDonald's will donate a portion of proceeds from sales at the Fairmount Avenue location until 7 p.m. to the San Diego Police Officers Association Widows & Orphans Fund, the SDPOA said.
