Hundreds gather inside, outside Denver cathedral to mourn slain cop

Published: 2005-05-17

DENVER (CNS) -- The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was a sea of blue the morning of May 13 as hundreds of law enforcement officers filled it for the funeral Mass of Denver Police Detective Donald "Donnie" Young, who was shot and killed early on Mother's Day. Young, 43, was working off duty providing security at a baptismal party May 8 when he and his partner, Detective John "Jack" Bishop, were shot from behind as the celebration drew to a close. Bishop survived. Suspected in the shooting is Raul Garcia-Gomez, 19, a Mexican national, who remained at large. Those officers who could not squeeze inside the 800-seat cathedral filled the closed-off street in front of the church and watched the liturgy on a jumbo television screen. Citizens moved by the tragedy joined them on the sidewalks. Civic leaders in the congregation included Gov. Bill Owens, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and former Mayor Wellington Webb.

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