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Officer bought kid cookies at McDonald's just before he was gunned down in California

An act of courtesy summed up a life spent in service to his country

August 17, 2011|by Lee Cowan, NBC News | newsalerts@ky3.com

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- It was a shooting rampage that shocked San Diego -- one that left a police officer dead.  It happened last week as the officer was simply sitting in his patrol car.  And while his death is a tragedy, it was this officer's last good deed that still has people talking.

Thousands mourned the loss of San Diego police officer Jeremy Henwood last weekend.  About the same time a quiet story of kindness began to emerge - one that helped drown out at least part of the grief.

"I think it goes without saying Jeremy was a great man and a hero to our country," said his sister, Emily Henwood.

Henwood had just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, after serving two tours in Iraq, only to be killed - police say -- by a petty thief who pulled up alongside Henwood's cruiser, and aimed a shotgun through the window.

The suspect was later chased and killed by police - exactly what he seemed to want. He left behind a two-page suicide note. But as the investigation continued - and the eulogies were being written -- this surveillance video surfaced -- that showed just how Officer Henwood spent his final moments on Earth.

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Officer Henwood had gone to McDonald's to grab a bite  and behind him in line was a 13 year old boy named Daveon Tinsley.
"I asked him for 10 cents. And he said, 'what's the 10 cents for?' and I said, '3 cookies.' and he said, 'well i can buy the 3 cookies for you."

Henwood opened his wallet -- without a second thought.

"You see this little boy with this giant grin saying, 'thank you. thank you officer," said San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne.

"(Officer Henwood) said what do you want to do when you grow up and I said NBA star, and he said well you got to work hard for that and I said thank you," said Daveon.

With that, the officer was gone. Moments later, Daveon heard the sirens.

"Somebody I met was a good guy, two second later he dies, it's just crazy," said Daveon.
It was a few extra minutes out of a police officer's day - that left an impression that will last a lifetime.

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