A true gospel missionary Baptist church
today, Dallas police officer James Joe
was remembered by both the young boy.
I think he was a nice person and he
always tried to help people.
And if there's one place he go this year,
as well as the elderly, he came to see
me when I was sick and gave me so many
words of encouragement.
Officer Joe was also an associate
pastor here at True Gospel.
And like every Sunday, he was supposed to
be sitting on the church dais today.
But a gunman's bullet ended that Thursday
night at a north Dallas apartment complex
where Joe lived.
He was moonlighting as a security guard
and somehow confronted two alleged
burglars.
Joe was fatally shot in the chest.
One of his alleged assailants turned
himself in to police yesterday.
Another remains in Parkland Hospital
tonight, suffering from gunshot wounds.
The day is somewhat of a sad day for all
of us, but life
must go on.
The church pastor struggled for words to
put his congregation at ease today.
It wasn't easy for some.
I think it's real sad
that he had to die so brutally like that
because he was real sweet
to everyone.
The body of Officer Joe will lie in state
here at his church until Tuesday morning.
From here, the remains will be taken to
Marsland Baptist Church, where funeral
services will be held at 11 a.m.
that day. Church members say it's
only fitting that the officer, Reverend
Joe, be buried around the national
holiday of another reverend who gave
the ultimate and the commission of
helping others.
Larry Mullins, Channel 5 News tonight.