Huntsville mourns first police officer to be killed in the line of duty since 1968

A sad day here in Huntsville.

(Huntsville Times) Huntsville police are mourning the death of a popular west precinct patrolman who was fatally shot in the head Monday while answering a domestic disturbance call.

Daniel Golden, 27, a second shift officer who joined the police force in July 2002, was shot about 3:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Jalisco, a Mexican grocery/restaurant on Jordan Lane. Authorities said he died about two hours later at Huntsville Hospital - the first city cop killed in the line of duty in almost 40 years...

No one had been charged in Golden's death by press time, but Reynolds said investigators were focusing on a man detained at the scene. The chief said he thinks police rounded up everyone who may have seen or been involved in the incident...

According to police sources who asked not to be identified, Golden was responding to a call about a Hispanic man beating his wife with a gun. The man shot Golden in the head as soon as the officer stepped out of his cruiser, the sources said, and then shot him again...

Seven young children on a Huntsville City Schools bus saw the aftermath of the shooting. The driver, who identified herself only as Redd, said she slowed to about 5 mph and could tell Golden was badly hurt...

"The kids said they'd never seen anything like that," Redd said. "He was just laying there not moving."

Since that original report, a man has been charged in the shooting.

(AP) Authorities formally charged Benito Albarra, 31, with Daniel H. Golden's murder about 9 p.m. Monday. Albarra was being held without bond. Police also questioned other individuals who may be suspects...

"We've lost one from the brotherhood in blue," said shaken Police Chief Rex Reynolds. "It's traumatic, tough, emotional. We can only hold his family now and try to help them through the healing process."

Officer Golden is survived by his wife and two stepchildren.