Salvation Army major shot by robbers in front of his children Christmas Eve

[MuffyBee]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/12/25/2009-12-25_salvation_army_major_gunned_down_by_robbers_in_front_of_his_children_in_christma.html


Salvation Army major gunned down by robbers in front of his children in Christmas Eve horror

By Samuel Goldsmith
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Originally Published:Friday, December 25th 2009, 10:18 AM
Updated: Friday, December 25th 2009, 11:54 AM
A Salvation Army major was shot dead in front of his wife and three young kids in a Christmas Eve tragedy as he walked into the charity's Little Rock, Arkansas headquarters.

Maj. Philip Wise, 40, had just returned to the Salvation Army with his kids, ages 4, 6 and 8, after he took home two bell ringers and collected their earnings from the day.

Two men with handguns approached Wise and his kids as they walked to the front door at the Salvation Army and demanded the money.

It is unclear if there was any exchange of words or money before the gunman opened fire on Wise. The two men fled on foot, cops said.

His wife, who also works at the Salvation Army, was inside the building and saw the shooting through a window. She called 911 just after the 4 p.m. shooting then ran outside to get her terrified children.

The two shooters are still at large.

Wise was the supervisor of three Arkansas Salvation Army locations and had been with the organization for 16 years.

With News Wire Services

[no rose colored glasses]

This horrific story just had me crying when I heard it on the news this morning. I can't even find words to express this tragedy.  The Salvation Army has been a favorite charity of my families through the many years. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the family and friends 

[MuffyBee]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/25/us/AP-US-Salvation-Army-Shooting.html
Salvation Army Major Shot in Front of 3 Children

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 25, 2009

Filed at 6:40 p.m. ET

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- A Salvation Army worker was shot and killed Christmas Eve in front of his three young children during an attempted robbery outside the charity's community center in North Little Rock, a Salvation Army official said Friday.

North Little Rock police said they were looking for the two men who accosted Salvation Army Maj. Philip Wise outside the community center about 4:15 p.m. Thursday. No arrests have been made.

The two men fled on foot into a nearby housing development, police Sgt. Terry Kuykendall said Friday. Police don't know whether Wise, who was active in the community, knew his attackers, he said.

Wise, 40, had gone to the community center with his children to pick up his wife -- also a Salvation Army major -- to drive to his mother's home in West Virginia, said Maj. Harvey Johnson, area commander of the Salvation Army. As Wise neared the side door, two men approached.

Both men were carrying hand guns, police said. One demanded money and shot Wise, Pulaski County Coroner Garland Camper told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Wise's wife, Cindy, was inside the center and called 911.

Blood stained the sidewalk outside the center Friday.

The Wises had just adopted their children -- ages 4, 6 and 8 -- last year, Johnson said. The three were siblings who came from an abusive family. They were receiving counseling after their father's death, he said.

Kuykendall said the children were standing beside their father when he was shot, but there was apparently no interaction between the youngsters and the two men.

Wise had worked for three years in Baring Cross, a low-income neighborhood troubled by gangs and drugs, Johnson said. He ran youth programs, a food pantry and church services.

''He was involved in the fabric of that community in a lot of different ways,'' Johnson said.

He described Wise as ''a big boy'' who played ''a big old tuba'' in a brass ensemble and used his love of music to try help others.

''He encouraged kids in music as an alternative to the life they were living,'' he said.

Kuykendall said he knew Wise, although they were not close friends.

''Mr. Wise within the last two months had spent so much time raising money so that several hundred children in this community could have a good Christmas, and for this to happen ... on Christmas Eve is just a tragedy,'' he said.

Wise was originally from Weirton, W.Va., and his wife, Cindy, was from Charleston, W.Va. They met 16 years ago at a Salvation Army school in Atlanta, Johnson said. Both had worked for the Salvation Army ever since.

''He's touched a lot of people,'' Johnson said. ''But who would he have touched if he had been able to live out his career?''
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http://arkansasmatters.com/content/fulltext/?cid=302592
(video)
NLR Police ID Second Suspect in Salvation Army Killing
March 29, 2010

Nearly two weeks after North Little Rock Police made an arrest in the Christmas Eve killing of a Salvation Army officer, a second suspect has been identified in the case.

Police say Brandon Leavy, 20, who was shot to death by a security guard in a January 7th store robbery in North Little Rock, was with Laquan Fitzpatrick, 19, of North Little Rock, when Maj. Philip Wise, 40, was shot during a robbery attempt outside the Salvation Army building on West 18th Street.

Fitzpatrick was arrested earlier this month.

Leavy had robbed the Dodge Store on East Broadway with Rodney Tyrone Townsend, 19, of North Little Rock, who was arrested less than a week later. Police say both Townsend and Leavy were armed with handguns when they barged into the store and demanded money. Townsend is charged with aggravated robbery and manslaughter in that case.

In the Christmas Eve killing, Major Wise was gunned down in front of his three young children after two armed men demanded money near the back door of the Salvation Army building at 1505 West 18th Street. Wise had apparently dropped off two bell ringers at their homes after finishing their shifts, then headed to the building with his children. His wife was already inside and called 911.

Wise was a pastor at the Salvation Army Chapel and played the tuba. He had been an officer for 15 years and worked in the Baring Cross community for three years. He was involved with several organizations including Rotary. Wise also helped provide Christmas for 6,000 children in the North Little Rock area.

Wise headed up the social services programs and the youth and adult programs. He also taught children to play musical instruments.

Police say Leavy and Fitzpatrick are believed to be the only two participants in Wise's murder, however the possibility exists for additional arrests of other persons for actions taken after the crime was committed.

After police named Leavy as the second suspect in Wise's killing, the Salvation Army issued this statement:

The Salvation Army is aware of the latest development in the Major Philip Wise murder investigation. We again wish to express our thanks and gratitude to the North Little Rock Police Department for their tireless work on this case. The Salvation Army continues to pray for all involved during this difficult time and hopes that the community joins us in remembering Major Wise for his lifelong commitment to serving others rather than the tragic circumstances of his death.

We have been in contact with Major Cindy Wise, who is taking time away from work to spend with her family. When we last spoke with her, she requested that we express her condolences to the family of Brandon Leavy for their loss.  We are all saddened that this event continues to breed more tragedy.

As the police continue to bring resolution to this case, we at The Salvation Army will continue to do our work in God’s name to bring comfort to those in our community who need it most.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.fox16.com/news/story/Murdered-Salvation-Army-Major-honored-in-North/gzGzhH4PaUihDreqYrMqiA.cspx
Murdered Salvation Army Major honored in North Little Rock
March 2, 2010
Two months after someone gunned down Salvation Army Major Philip Wise in front of his family, the North Little Rock Rotary honors him.
 
His wife Major Cindy Wise accepted the "Paul Harris Fellow" on his behalf.  But as they celebrate his service North Little Rock police continue the search for his killers.

Major Wise was shot and killed at the Salvation Army on Christmas Eve.  His wife and three children witnessed it.  His wife says they're trying to find forgiveness in their hearts but it may not come until they know who took his life.
 
"He was such a humble man and he was very much about putting others first before himself," Major Cindy Wise said.

And that's why the North Little Rock Rotary Club is honoring slain Wise with the Paul Harris Fellow.

"A Paul Harris Fellow is the highest recognition that a Rotarian can receive and we want to honor Philip Wise with this very special award," Debbie Robinson with the Rotary Club said.

The tender hearted man was killed violently in front of his wife and three children as he dropped off bell ringers at the Salvation Army last Christmas Eve.  Major Cindy Wise says it hasn't been easy dealing with this loss but talking about Philip is therapeutic for the family.

"We talk about him everyday so my 4 year old may say I know daddy's up there in the clouds looking down on us," she said.

Right now they are praying police identify and arrest those responsible and they're working on forgiveness.

"We know that even though we may not be to say ‘I forgive you’ we still pray for them faithfully and want them to know forgiveness is out there," Major Cindy Wise said. 

And police believe there's someone out there who has information that will help find Wise's killers.  Detectives are diligently working any leads that come in. Sot-SGT Terry Kuykendall/north little Rock Police}

"I feel confident that at some point the person responsible will be behind bars," SGT. Terry Kuykendall with the North Little Rock Police said.

“I know it will all work in the proper timing cause God is on our side," Wise said.

The only description Major Cindy Wise could give police of the shooters is that they were two young black men who robbed and shot her husband and then ran off.

A $10,000 reward is available for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the killers in this case.  If you have any information please call 501-680-8639.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.fox16.com/news/story/Second-suspect-named-in-Salvation-Army-murder/tQWO2168lEGUPdAKY1T5Nw.cspx
(video)
Second suspect named in Salvation Army murder
North Little Rock Police identify the 2nd suspect in the murder of Salvation Army Major Phillip Wise.

Police say 20-year-old Brandon Leavy is one of two men who killed Wise.  But since that murder Leavy has been killed.

"The Salvation Army family feels there is another chapter closed on this and I wouldn't say closure but at least there's a sense of relief," Major Harvey Johnson said.

Police say that Leavy and another man tried to rob the Dodge store in North Little Rock but that the security guard shot and killed Leavy during the robbery.

“Cindy wanted to express to the Leavy family, this is another tragedy added to tragedy already. It seems violence and just the nonsense of the whole thing-the downhill spiral this has taken saddens everyone," Major Johnson said.

Police tell us shortly after Leavy died investigators developed him as a suspect. Right now police aren't releasing details on what pointed to Leavy but did tell us Leavy and 19-year-old Laquan Fitzpatrick knew each other.

Police arrested Fitzpatrick and charged him with Wise's murder 2 weeks ago.

"This was a national story and one that really affected a lot of people who work here, so I think its very satisfying obviously to make the arrest, to put those responsible behind bars or say to if he was alive," Terry Kuykendall with the North Little Rock police said.

Police also believe Leavy and Fitpatrick are the two responsible for killing Wise.

"Hopefully it will give her a bit more relief to continue to heal..in the healing process," Kuykendall said.

Salvation Army Major Philip Wise was shot and killed in front of his children on Christmas Eve in North Little Rock.  Laquan Fitzpatrick was arrested on March 16th in connection to wise' murder. Fitzpatrick is expected to be back in court April 28th.
 

[Nut44x4]

Trial set for Laquan Fitzpatrick in Major Philip Wise's murder

 posted: 7:01 PM, Jun 1, 2010
 ::snipping2::

Judge Barry Sims set a Jan. 24 trial for Laquan Fitzpatrick, who's charged with capital murder. Sims also set a May 3 trial for Fitzpatrick on an unrelated aggravated robbery charge.  ::snipping2::    http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=105722


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Updated: 5:11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2010 | Posted: 4:48 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2010

Man Pleads Guilty To Salvation Army Major's Murder
An Arkansas man will spend 50 years in prison after admitted to the murder of a Salvation Army major from Weirton.
Laquan Javaris Fitzpatrick, 19, was arrested in March and charged with capital murder in the Christmas Eve 2009 shooting death of Maj. Philip Wise, 40.

Police said Fitzpatrick and another man shot and killed wise outside of a Salvation Army in Little Rock in front of Wise's three young children.
In court Friday, Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and firearm enhancement. He must serve at least 35 years before he would be eligible for parole.   ::snipping2::
http://www.wtov9.com/news/news/man-pleads-guilty-to-salvation-army-majors-murder/nD4ZM/

[KittyMom]

35 yrs just doesn't seem fair.  Those poor kids will live with the site of their father's murder in their heads for far more than 35 yrs.