As residents of Cold Spring, Minn., began the formal grieving process Monday for slain police officer Tom Decker, authorities asked for an extra day to prepare their case against the suspect they believe ambushed him in a dark alley last week.
A community vigil honors slain officer
Prosecutors asked for and received an extra day to prepare their charges against the suspect. They are still looking for the weapon.
December 4, 2012 at 3:35AM
About 200 community members turned out for a candlelight vigil outside the Wenner Funeral Home on Monday evening, just hours after Stearns County Judge Vicki Landwehr granted prosecutors their request for a 24-hour extension to hold Ryan Michael Larson, 34, in the county jail. Authorities allege Larson fatally shot Decker on Thursday night behind a Main Street bar below the suspect's apartment. Although some weapons have been recovered, authorities are still searching for a shotgun believed to have been used in the shooting.
Visitation for Decker is at 4 p.m. Tuesday at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Cold Spring. Decker's funeral will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. John's Abbey and University Church in Collegeville, Minn.
"He just liked to protect people -- all I can say is I want him back," 8-year-old Kelly Decker, the eldest of the officer's four children, told the St. Cloud Times.
CURT BROWN
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