Deriek Crouse's funeral, burial set for Monday
An enormous crowd gathered at Virginia Tech on Monday to mourn the loss and honor the memory of the Deriek Crouse.
The campus officer, who was killed in the line of duty on Thursday afternoon, was a husband and a father of five.
"If I could say there was any person...soldier, police officer...that was a good person, who would help somebody in need, it was him," Darris Upchurch, Deriek's brother, said.
Crouse, 39, was conducting a routine traffic stop on campus last Thursday when 22-year-old Ross Ashley walked up to him, then shot and killed him.
Ashley then turned the gun on himself, police say.
Family and friends gathered for a viewing at the veteran and father of five's house on Sunday night.
"The only thing that would bring closure is to know why," Upchurch said.
Ashley's family has offered condolences and prayers to the slain officer's family.
In an unsigned statement faxed Sunday to The Associated Press, the family of Ashley also requested that their privacy be respected.
Investigators say Ashley walked up to Crouse on Virginia Tech's Blacksburg campus and fatally shot him. Ashley was found a short time later, dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound.
"The Ashley family would like to offer their condolences to the family of Officer Crouse," the statement said. "Officer Crouse and his family are in their prayers."
The family also said there would be no additional statements. The Spotsylvania County family had not made a public statement since the deadly shooting Thursday.
The statement also said the family appreciates the support and prayers they have received.
Virginia State Police investigators are attempting to determine a motive for what appears to be an unprovoked attack.
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