Salvation Army major shot dead in Arkansas on Christmas Eve

[The Straight Story]

Salvation Army major shot dead in Arkansas on Christmas Eve

(CNN) -- A Salvation Army major was shot dead in front of his three children on Christmas Eve in North Little Rock, Arkansas, authorities said.

Maj. Philip Wise, 40, was gunned down Thursday. He was found lying by the back entrance of a Salvation Army facility, said police spokesman Sgt. Terry Kuykendall.

Wise apparently dropped two bell ringers off at home and returned to the Salvation Army building with his three children, ages 4, 6 and 8. Two men carrying handguns approached them and demanded money before shooting Wise, Kuykendall said.

The suspects fled on foot.

Police received a 911 call at 4:17 p.m. Pulaski County Coroner Garland Camper said Wise's wife, Cindy, made the call from inside the building.

"My heart goes out for the family, losing their dad, and I guess having to witness it during this time of year," Camper told CNN affiliate KARK. "It's definitely going to be hard on the kids."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/25/arkansas.salvation.army.slaying/index.html

[madrchsod]

1. i`d have to go with the death penalty on these guys

i`m not in favor of the death penalty but these guys deserve it

[Barack_America]

2. Attempting to steal from the poor and killing a man in front of his kids...

...on Christmas?

Yeah, I'd have to say that if anything qualifies, that certainly would.

[noamnety]

7. And the resources to pay for that would come from the poor.

Budgets to cover the death penalty don't eat at the profits of the rich. They come at the expense of the people the Salvation Army is trying to serve.

Swiping millions more from the poor to fund the execution of someone who had no compassion for the poor isn't logical. The death of the executed results indirectly in many more deaths of innocent poor people.

[TexasObserver]

6. If you're not in favor of the death penalty, why make exceptions?

ALL of those who are sentenced to death have horrific stories, if the charges for which they were convicted are true.

These guys deserve a trial, and if convicted, they deserve life with no possibility of parole.

[napi21]

3. I understand theft goes up when times are bad, but for God sake...

the Salvation Army? The $$ they collect is for HELPING those who are down & out! IF you're in such a terrible situation you think you have to resort to stealing, rob a bank, a drug store, or some place that's working against your best interests, NOT he people who are trying to help you!!!!

[proteus_lives]

4. Animals.

Fucking animals.

Those poor kids.

[niyad]

12. please don't insult animals--they don't do things like this.

[man4allcats]

5. Execute these SOBs. n/t

[leeroysphitz]

8. Fucking animals. n/t

[niyad]

13. please don't insult the animals, they don't do things like this.

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. Dust off Old Sparky.

[morningglory]

10. End of the world: dogs and cats living together and all that.

Bad craziness, as (I believe) Holden Caulfield said. Maybe not him, but someone.

[Subdivisions]

11. Hunt them down. Convict them. And execute them. n/t

[niyad]

14. I just heard about this a few minutes before coming in here. my heart goes out to his family

imagine what those poor children are going to live with.

I hope they find these bastards and lock them up forever.

[TCJ70]

15. This story gets even sadder...

The children were adopted out of an abusive situation. Sheesh...

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/25/us/AP-US-Salvation-Army-Shooting.html

"The Wises had just adopted their children -- ages 4, 6 and 8 -- last year, Johnson said. The three were siblings who came from an abusive family. They were receiving counseling after their father's death, he said.

Wise had worked for three years in Baring Cross, a low-income neighborhood troubled by gangs and drugs, Johnson said. He ran youth programs, a food pantry and church services."