Weeks and weeks of violence, mayhem, and the deaths of several law enforcement officials across the country don’t appear to be abating anytime soon. On top of that, the shouts from Black Lives Matter and other radical leftists to “Defund the Police” are only getting louder, leading many police officers to walk off the job in protest.
Now, an Ohio family is mourning the loss of a brother, husband, and father, after a 26-year-old, Toledo police officer named Anthony Dia was killed in the line of duty on Saturday morning — the Fourth of July. Here’s how it happened.
WTOL:
Toledo Police Officer Anthony Dia, 26, was responding to a call in the parking lot of Home Depot on Alexis Road early Saturday morning and was shot in the chest and killed by an intoxicated man holding a beer, police said. Dia was later pronounced dead at a hospital, Police Chief George Kral said at a news conference July 4.
Witnesses told police the man shot the officer with a handgun and then went into a wooded area. At some point, officers heard a single gunshot coming from the woods, Kral said. The gunman, a 57-year-old white male, was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound to the head around 3:15 a.m
The report added that Dia’s death marks Toledo’s 31st officer killed in the line of duty.
And as the officer’s loved ones have since shared, “He immediately called dispatch and his last words to them were ‘Dispatch, tell my family I love them.'”
“118, tell my family I love them” pic.twitter.com/ibUzRQ3AIz
— Bryan (@BC5oh) July 4, 2020
Now, the late officer’s younger brother is speaking out. On the same day his brother was murdered, Lou decided to selflessly share images and remembrances – his own and those of friends – of the man he says he wishes he’d said “I love you” to more often.
He wrote:
“I never thought that I would ever have to say this but my big brother got shot in the line of duty tonight. We never used to tell each other we loved each other but I love you dude and I’ll miss you and I’ll hold these boys so tight for you.”
I never thought that I would ever have to say this but my big brother got shot in the line of duty tonight. We never used to tell each other we loved each other but I love you dude and I’ll miss you and I’ll hold these boys so tight for you pic.twitter.com/1hfOtco3WA
— lou (@loubeanz) July 4, 2020
The boys he’s referring to are Dia’s two, young sons, now left to grow up without a dad.
Sadly, in the current, polarized atmosphere Americans find themselves in, when it comes to the subject of police, Lou had to correct commenters who tried to make it political.
He wrote:
“I know I shouldn’t be reading the replies to these but just to clarify: my brothers death has nothing to do with BLM movement. He was killed by a white man and my brother only ever wanted to bring everyone together and to have peace.”
I know I shouldn’t be reading the replies to these but just to clarify: my brothers death has nothing to do with BLM movement. He was killed by a white man and my brother only ever wanted to bring everyone together and to have peace
— lou (@loubeanz) July 5, 2020
A GoFundMe account has been set up to support the slain officer’s widow and sons, with a goal of $500,000, which stands at $180,000 at the time of this writing. You can find the page here:
This is the link to his GoFundMe for my sister in law and two nephews ❤️ Thank you everyone for your kind words
— lou (@loubeanz) July 5, 2020
Brother Lou also had a message for any activists who want to destroy police departments across the country. Every American can relate to his righteous indignation, as he writes:
“i don’t give f*** what you think about police officers. my brother didn’t deserve to die.”
i don’t give fuck what you think about police officers. my brother didn’t deserve to die.
— lou (@loubeanz) July 5, 2020
Dia was honored by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine:
Here is the official flag-lowering order to honor the life and service of @ToledoPolice Officer Anthony Dia. pic.twitter.com/QCWvhMUS4Z
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) July 5, 2020
A memorial service for Officer Dia was held Monday morning, which was “limited to the Dia family, their faith-based community, police officers and fire personnel,” according to a WTOL report from the Toledo police department.
Nothing says freedom and #America like a Lebanese-American Muslim police officer sacrificing his life on the #FourthofJuly, because he chose to serve and protect. #AnthonyDia #ToledoPolice pic.twitter.com/aB0AMXmYWc
— ARIYL ONSTOTT (@ariylonstott) July 5, 2020
The department has also released a memorial video about their fallen brother.
The caption reads:
As the sun sets on this Fourth of July, please take a moment to reflect on the life and sacrifice of Officer Anthony Dia. He leaves behind his wife, two young boys, and a loving family. He made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. End of Watch: July 4, 2020.
You can watch the moving tribute below:
As the sun sets on this Fourth of July, please take a moment to reflect on the life and sacrifice of Officer Anthony Dia. He leaves behind his wife, two young boys, and a loving family. He made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. End of Watch: July 4, 2020. pic.twitter.com/HFb2OEuHpr
— Toledo Police (@ToledoPolice) July 5, 2020
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