Late North Carolina officer William 'Alden' Elliott's son, 12, pays heartfelt tribute to his 'hero' dad
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: In a heartfelt tribute to his late father, Theo, the 12-year-old son of North Carolina Officer William ‘Alden’ Elliott, has vowed to emulate his father.
Elliott, 46, was one of four law enforcement officers who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty while serving an arrest warrant at a Charlotte home on Monday, April 29.
Theo remembers his father as a hero and has promised to learn how to ride the bike his father got him on his 12th birthday.
'My daddy is a Hero': Theo's heartfelt tribute to his father William ‘Alden’ Elliott
In an emotional tribute to his late father, Theo penned a poem for Elliott’s obituary, “My daddy is a hero. He died getting the bad guys, that’s what he was good at."
He described his father as a Marine, a Police Officer, and a kind and patient man who kept his family safe.
Theo fondly remembered the fun times he had with his father, from playing video games to collecting Pokemon cards together. He wrote, “I have a Charizard that he helped me get graded," reported People.
William 'Alden' Elliott was a devoted father and a brave officer
Theo also shared that he and his father had watched every 'Star Wars' movie and series together and that Elliott loved playing and watching baseball, with the Dodgers being his favorite team.
To celebrate Theo’s 12th birthday, Elliott had bought two dirt bikes, one for Theo and one for himself, so they could ride together.
“I will learn how to ride it and we will ride together one day, Daddy," Theo vowed.
Elliott, a 14-year veteran of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction and part of the US Marshals Task Force, was remembered as the best man Theo would ever know.
The boy also expressed his hope to be like his father one day. "He is my daddy; the best daddy."
"He was the best man I will ever know. And I hope to be just like him," he ended the tribute.
The memorial service for William 'Alden' Elliott will be held on May 9
A memorial service with military honors for Elliott will be held at 6 pm local time at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory on Thursday, May 9.
Elliott and the three other officers were met with gunfire while approaching 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr, who was later pronounced dead in the front yard of the home after officers returned fire.
The other three slain officers have been identified as Deputy US Marshal Thomas M Weeks Jr, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) Officers Sam Poloche and CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer.
Four other officers were wounded in the line of duty on Monday afternoon.
