Slain York County Sheriff Detective Memorialized In Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC -- Slain York County Sheriff Detective Michael Doty, who was shot and killed last week while searching for a domestic violence suspect, was memorialized by hundreds Monday at Charlotte’s Calvary Church.

Doty, along with three other officers from York County, was ambushed Jan. 16 and all shot at two locations in a location near York, S.C., while they were conducting a manhunt for Christian Thomas McCall, who was wanted for a domestic violence charge, The Charlotte Observer reported. Those officers wounded include York County Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy Randy Clinton, Sheriff’s Sgt. Buddy Brown and York Police Sgt. Kyle Cummings.

Mourners from the community, alongside hundreds of police officers from across the U.S. packed Calvary Church’s sanctuary on Pineville Matthews Road Monday afternoon to pay their respects to the detective. Doty, 37, was a Charlotte native and had been on the force at the sheriff’s office in York County since 2006.

“This is the hardest day for any police officer,” S.C. Rep. Bruce Bryant, R-York, and a former York County Sheriff, said according to The Herald.. “It is the day we hope never comes. And it is here.”

Following the service, the funeral procession made its way to South Carolina, prompting road closures along the way that had a moderate impact on traffic into the Charlotte area. Doty was taken to Rock Hill for burial at Forest Hills Cemetery.

A GoFundMe campaign was created immediately following the shootings last week to help pay medical bills for the four officers. “This tragedy was both heartbreaking and terrifying. The officers were ambushed throughout the night,” the campaign said. As of Jan. 22, it had raised $64,305.

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe