The colleagues of a Michigan police officer shot and killed last month, as well as the city's mayor, escorted the fallen officer's brother to his first day of third grad, even giving the 7-year-old boy his brother's badge.
"Me and my older brother always take (Yousef)—his first day of kindergarten, first grade and second grade," Ahmed Said, younger brother of slain Melvindale Police Cpl. Mohamed Said, told WJBK-TV. "For his third grade, my brother was not here, so I was glad the officers came in."
RELATED:
- Mich. Police Officer Fatally Shot in Confrontation with Fleeing Suspect
- Suspect in Killing of Mich. Police Officer Arrested after Manhunt
- Mich. Officer's Accused Killer Discharged from Parole 2 Months Before Attack
Ahmed and Yousef were joined by a group of officers, who presented Yousef with Mohamed's badge, which he wore clipped to his belt. Melvindale Mayor Nicole Shkira was also part of the heartfelt school escort.
"He was just happy seeing the officers taking him to school," said Ahmed.
Mohamed was investigating a group of suspicious people loitering around a car on July 21 when a man identified as Michael Lopez allegedly shot and killed Mohamed before fleeing on a bicycle. That sparked a brief manhunt for Lopez, who was apprehended about a day later and was charged on 12 counts.
The support from Mohamed's fellow officers hasn't begun and ended with escorting Yousef to school. The department has been very supporting of Mohamed's family through this tragedy, according to Ahmed.
"I have a lot of officers texting me every other day, checking on me. The whole department's like second family – the chief, the mayor," he said.
The officers escorting Yousef didn't forget about the boy's classmates. They handed out backpacks and other school supplies, and the department plans to do another event with the school.
Ahmed and his family have appreciated all the help they've received following Mohamed's death. It's helped soften what has been a devastating blow for everyone, he said.
"We show that we're okay, try to be strong, but from the inside, we're not okay," said Ahmed. "My brother was the heart of the family. (Since) he died, (it's) like we're living without our heart. … I learned everything for him."
