20 Faulkner: "I have just stopped -- ah -- 12, 13th and Locust."
Radio: "Car to back 612, 13th and Locust."
Faulkner: "On second thought, send me a wagon, 1234 Locust."
Patrol Car: "I'll take a ride over."
Car 601: "Yeah, we just got information from a passer by, there's a policeman shot at, I think it sounds like it was at 12th.
Car 105: "Sam ,105, we're on location"
Radio: "Okay, any car on location?"
Car 105: "Sam, 105, policeman shot."
This is a transmission on the Philadelphia police radio in the early morning hours of December 9, 1981. The time that elapsed between Officer Daniel Faulkner radioing that he was pulling over a car, and the time his fellow officers arrived on the scene to find his dead body was a mere 1 minute and 29 seconds. In just one minute and twenty nine seconds Maureen Faulkner became a widow. Her 25 year old husband, lying on Locust street with a bullet between his eyes.
Just a few steps away Mumia Abu-Jamal, wearing an empty shoulder holster, lie slumped over on the curb with a bullet wound to his chest. Jamal's Charter Arms 38 caliber, with a 2 inch barrel, was on the ground next to him, with 5 empty shell casings.
When the police arrived the driver of the car, Jamal's brother, William Cook, was standing in shock by the body of the fallen officer. His only comment: "I ain't got nothing to do with it." He didn't say: "We ain't got nothing to do with it.", or "He ain't got nothing to do with it.",or "The officer shot my Brother". No. He only said, "I ain't got nothing to do with it."
Mumia Abu-Jamal had been a radio journalist in Philadelphia, but having lost his radio position was now a cab driver. Unexplainably, he had his cab parked in a lot across the street at the time Faulkner pulled over his brother for traveling the wrong way on a one-way street. According to eyewitness reports while Faulkner was trying to secure Cook a struggle ensued. Reportedly Cook punched Faulkner in the face, Faulkner responded by striking Cook with either his club or flashlight. Eyewitnesses then noticed Jamal running across the street toward the incident. They testified he shot Faulkner in the back from close range. After Officer Faulkner was shot, he turned and returned fire, striking Jamal in the chest. While the wounded officer was on the ground Jamal, also wounded, stood over him and emptied his gun. According the the medical examiner's report one of the bullets lodged in Faulkner's brain causing, "Complete instantaneous disability and death."
On June 17, 1982 a trial to determine if Jamal was guilty of killing Officer Daniel Faulkner began. The trial, which lasted 2 weeks, was often disrupted by outbursts by the defendant and his supporters. On July 2 the jury deliberated for 5 1/2 hours and returned with a verdict of "guilty of murder in the first degree". The jury then had the task of sentencing Jamal for his crimes. At 12:30 that day the jury was sent off to determine what punishment fit the crime . By 4:20 they had made their decision. They sentenced Mumia Abu-Jamal to death.
It is now more than 23 years since Mumia Abu-Jamal took the life of a Philadelphia Police Officer. Jamal has received a Masters degree from California State College from death row. He has written 5 books, and has recorded messages to be played at universities. Thousands of people, many of them celebrities, are outraged and have set up demonstrations. The irony is that they are not outraged about the fact that a convicted cop killer is still sitting on death row after all this time. They are outraged that the Government will not give Jamal a new trial. Jamal's new defense team has filed numerous appeals for a new trial and they have all been denied because they lacked merit.
Meanwhile, the officer's widow, now living in California, awaits closure. Maureen has kept busy, dispelling the lies that Jamal's legal team has started. She is leading the campaign to honor her husband. Daniel was the youngest of seven children born to an Irish Catholic family from the southwest side of Philadelphia. After serving his country in the U.S. Army, he joined the Philadelphia Police in 1975. Six years later he was murdered in the line of duty.
A lot can happen in just 1 minute and 29 seconds.
