Funeral Held For Baltimore County Officer Fatally Shot In Line Of Duty
MANCHESTER, Md. (WJZ) -- A sad farewell for family and friends of a Baltimore County officer killed in the line of duty earlier this week. Officer Jason Schneider was laid to rest Saturday.
Gigi Barnett reports neighbors lined the street to show support for all first responders.
For miles down the Carroll County streets leading to St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church, neighbors came out to show their support for slain Baltimore County officer Jason Lee Schneider.
"I was devastated because it was so sad," said neighbor Carol Miller.
Inside the church, family, friends and fellow officers said goodbye to the 36-year-old.
"All of us here today are united in sorrow at the sudden death of Jason. The reality of death--with all of its pain and great sense of loss--confronts us at this very moment," said Rev. Fr. Michael Roach.
A letter written by Schneider's widow Erica was read to mourners.
"He gave me a kiss at four in the morning and I felt it. I woke up and I told him I loved him. And that was the last memory of Jason alive," the letter read.
A former Marine and member of the department's tactical team, Schneider was part of a unit serving an arrest warrant at a Catonsville house on Wednesday morning. Investigators say Schneider was trying to stop a teen from getting away, but was shot in the back. Doctors at Shock Trauma couldn't save him.
"He lived five houses up from us," said neighbor Megan Donovan.
Donovan says his death has hit their Carroll County community hard.
"It's been heart-breaking and touching to see all of the police officers go by the house and it really hits home," Donovan said.
Officer Schneider is survived by his parents, wife and two children, Brandon and Kayla.
Schneider is the ninth Baltimore County officer to die in the line of duty in the department's history. Officers from as far away as Pittsburgh attended his funeral this weekend.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Schneider Memorial Fund. Checks should be made payable to F.O.P. LODGE #4 and write "SCHNEIDER MEMORIAL FUND" on the memo line. Mail the check to F.O.P. Lodge #4, 9304 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21234.
