Candlelight vigil honors fallen Fort Worth Officer Garrett Hull

FORT WORTH, Texas - Hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil Wednesday night for fallen Fort Worth Officer Garrett Hull.

The vigil was a chance for the community to all come together and honor Hull. He was shot last week when he and other officers confronted three robbery suspects.

The injured officer fought for his life in the hospital for more than a day but passed away Friday night with his wife and daughters by his side.

Since then, community members have been bringing flowers, cards and other items to a Fort Worth Police Department vehicle that’s parked outside headquarters. Supporters have also printed hundreds of shirts that were sold at the vigil. All of the money goes to Officer Hull’s family.

Officer Hull had dozens of family members and close friends in attendance for the candlelight vigil. His wife, Sabrina, and daughters were the first to light candles.

The Fort Worth Police chaplain explained that the reason they are doing a candlelight vigil was to symbolize that darkness will not win. He posed questions from the Bible: Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me? He says that was Officer Garrett Hull.

Several representatives of the Fort Worth Police Department spoke, sharing that they all hurt when one of them hurts. It reminded the department that each officer takes this job knowing they would be willing to sacrifice their life so that justice might win.

Fort Worth Police Officers Association President Manny Ramirez said Hull gave his life for the city, but he lived his life for his family.

“We got that call that we got a hero down. We all felt that sunken feeling in our stomachs when we realized that one of our best and one of our bravest had been injured in the line of duty,” Ramirez said. “The news was even harder when we realized who that man was and we heard that it was Garrett Hull. He was the man that everybody wanted as back up. That every citizen was lucky if he showed up on the call.”

Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald also spoke, saying that none of them believe they’ll ever not come home to their families.

“We see what happens in a community when there’s lawlessness and there’s fear,” the chief said. “Police officers don’t create these problems. They respond to them.”

Fort Worth Officer Matt Pearce was hurt in the line of duty in 2016. He said officers and their families need each other in times like these.

“This is kind of a campaign that started when I got hurt back in 2016. A bunch of shirts were printed to help raise funds for my family, just to kind of help them bear the burden financially,” Officer Pearce said.

The chief urged his officers to go back out on patrol with a sense of service instead of anger, again reiterating that darkness will not win.

Officer Hull will be buried Friday. His funeral will be private. However, people are encouraged to line the procession route to Greenwood Memorial Cemetery to show support.