'No amount of justice is going to be enough in this world'
TACOMA, Wash. -- The family members of the four fallen Lakewood police officers faced three men accused of helping the suspected gunman on Tuesday.
The family members watched silently, some shedding tears, as each of the three suspects accused of rendering assistance - brothers Douglas and Eddie Davis, and Rickey Hinton - faced the judge.
Behind them, police officers and chaplains lent their support. Security was tight in the courtroom.
"I don't even see how we can call them people, how they can sign their names, how they can tug on their ears. They're not human to me," said Melanie Burwell, who lost her brother-in-law, Officer Greg Richards.
Prosecutors expected Clemmons' family to appear in court, but the family never showed.
Officer Greg Richards' sister-in-law told reporters she had to be in the courtroom despite her anger and sorrow.
"I came here for them, just to be strong for my sister, to protect her. Because Greg was always the one who protected her and now, we have to do it for him," said
Burwell said she wished Clemmons hadn't died so quickly.
"It didn't even really matter," she said. "I shouldn't, but I wanted him to suffer longer."
Two days since the family members' loved ones were killed. Those two days have been spent mourning, crying, struggling to understand why someone would gun down the four officers.
Now, all they want is to see that justice is done.
"No amount of justice is going to be enough in this world, and they're going to have to serve their justice in their next life. It's still not going to bring back our heroes," said Burwell.
The families say they'll be following these cases. They'll be back in court every chance they get.
The family members watched silently, some shedding tears, as each of the three suspects accused of rendering assistance - brothers Douglas and Eddie Davis, and Rickey Hinton - faced the judge.
Behind them, police officers and chaplains lent their support. Security was tight in the courtroom.
"I don't even see how we can call them people, how they can sign their names, how they can tug on their ears. They're not human to me," said Melanie Burwell, who lost her brother-in-law, Officer Greg Richards.
Prosecutors expected Clemmons' family to appear in court, but the family never showed.
Officer Greg Richards' sister-in-law told reporters she had to be in the courtroom despite her anger and sorrow.
"I came here for them, just to be strong for my sister, to protect her. Because Greg was always the one who protected her and now, we have to do it for him," said
Burwell said she wished Clemmons hadn't died so quickly.
"It didn't even really matter," she said. "I shouldn't, but I wanted him to suffer longer."
Two days since the family members' loved ones were killed. Those two days have been spent mourning, crying, struggling to understand why someone would gun down the four officers.
Now, all they want is to see that justice is done.
"No amount of justice is going to be enough in this world, and they're going to have to serve their justice in their next life. It's still not going to bring back our heroes," said Burwell.
The families say they'll be following these cases. They'll be back in court every chance they get.
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