SHELBY, N.C. -- The law enforcement community is mourning the loss of one of their own.
Officer Tim Brackeen of the Shelby Police Department died Monday morning from his injuries after he was shot early on Saturday while serving outstanding warrants.
"It was something you just don't expect," said Barry Goodman. "We weren't prepared for it."
On Tuesday afternoon, several area law enforcement and emergency agencies honored Brackeen as his body was being escorted from the medical examiner's office in Charlotte to a funeral home in Shelby.
The news that one of his congregation's members had been shot and was fighting for his life was something Pastor Barry Goodman at Faith Baptist Church in Shelby hoped he'd never hear. Officer Tim Brackeen had been a member of his church for the last 12 years, along with his wife and their young daughter.
Fire trucks getting in position to salute Officer Tim Brackeen as his his body heads back to Shelby #wcnc pic.twitter.com/O3sUFrfowX
— Ty Chandler (@TyChandler_News) September 13, 2016
"He loved hunting, fishing, his friends in the church," Goodman said. "He loved police work. He loved serving people in the Christian realm and in the police force."
Monday morning, Brackeen passed away at CMC-Main in Charlotte.
Goodman was in the hospital room with friends and family, including Brackeen's wife.
"My words were to her, 'It won't be long before we see him again,'" Goodman said.
Many law enforcement members have their attention turned toward tracking down the primary suspect, 23-year old Irving Lucien Fenner, Jr. The rest of the community is still processing what happened and wondering how they'll fill the void that Brackeen leaves behind.
"Our world has suffered a great loss today," Goodman said. "But heavens, we know where he's at, so that's the main thing."
During his career, Brackeen was named Officer of the Year and won several merit awards.
Honoring their fallen brother. #ShelbyStrong pic.twitter.com/FGilPaJ63y
— Mike Hanson (@MikeWCNC) September 13, 2016
