Vigil held for Prince George’s Co. detective killed in gun battle


Prince George's County police Chief Hank Stawinski comforts Barbara Rust, the grandmother of Det. Jacai Colson, outside station where he was killed. A vigil was held there on Sunday, March 20, 2016. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski comforts Barbara Rust, the grandmother of  late Det. Jacai Colson, outside the Landover Md., police station where Colson was killed. A vigil was held there on Sunday, March 20, 2016. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Prince George's County police held a vigil outside the District III police station in Landover, Md. to remember the life of fallen officer Jacai Colson, 28-year-old detective. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Prince George’s County police held a vigil outside the District III police station in Landover, Md. to remember the life of fallen officer Jacai Colson, a 28-year-old detective. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
(WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Crowds quiet for a moment of silence outside Prince George's County police department's District III Station during a vigil on Sunday, March 20, 2016, one week to the minute of an ambush attack that resulted in the death of Det. Jacai Colson. (Prince George's County Police via Twitter)
Crowds quiet for a moment of silence outside Prince George’s County police department’s District III Station during a vigil on Sunday, March 20, 2016, one week to the minute of an ambush attack that resulted in the death of Det. Jacai Colson, who had been on the force for four years. (Prince George’s County Police via Twitter)
Mourners bow their heads during a vigil outside the District III police station in Landover, Md. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Mourners bow their heads for a moment of silence outside the District III police station in Landover, Md. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Prince George's County police Chief Hank Stawinski leads mourners at vigil for Det. Jacai Colson on Sunday, March 20, 2016. Colson was killed after a gunman open fired outside the District III station in Landover, Md., where the vigil was held. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Prince George’s County police Chief Hank Stawinski leads mourners at vigil for Det. Jacai Colson on Sunday, March 20, 2016. Colson was killed after a gunman open fired outside the District III station in Landover, Md., where the vigil was held. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
(WTOP/Dick Uliano)
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Prince George's County police Chief Hank Stawinski comforts Barbara Rust, the grandmother of Det. Jacai Colson, outside station where he was killed. A vigil was held there on Sunday, March 20, 2016. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Prince George's County police held a vigil outside the District III police station in Landover, Md. to remember the life of fallen officer Jacai Colson, 28-year-old detective. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Crowds quiet for a moment of silence outside Prince George's County police department's District III Station during a vigil on Sunday, March 20, 2016, one week to the minute of an ambush attack that resulted in the death of Det. Jacai Colson. (Prince George's County Police via Twitter)
Mourners bow their heads during a vigil outside the District III police station in Landover, Md. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Prince George's County police Chief Hank Stawinski leads mourners at vigil for Det. Jacai Colson on Sunday, March 20, 2016. Colson was killed after a gunman open fired outside the District III station in Landover, Md., where the vigil was held. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
December 24, 2024 | Vigil honors the life of slain Prince George's police officer Jacai Colson (Dick Uliano)

LANDOVER, Md. —  Police officers, family members and neighbors bundled against the chill, held candles and remembered the late Prince George’s County police officer Jacai Colson during a vigil Sunday outside the police station where he was killed a week ago.

“Remember his memory, cherish him,” said Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski. “We must never forget, know that we will never forget.”

The crowd observed a moment of silence  at 4:30 p.m.,  the time the 28-year-old detective lost his life in the chaotic gun battle that ensued when a gunman opened fire outside the District III police station in Landover.  Police have determined that Colson was mistakenly shot by a fellow police officer.

The family was represented by Barbara Rust, Colson’s  grandmother.

“He was what I called ‘my man,’ and he’s in a better place and he’s at peace,” Rust said through sobs.

A private funeral for Colson will be held Friday at First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Colson will be laid to rest  Monday, March 28  at Lawn Croft Cemetery in Linwood, Pennsylvania.

Dick Uliano

Whether anchoring the news inside the Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center or reporting from the scene in Maryland, Virginia or the District, Dick Uliano is always looking for the stories that really impact people's lives.

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