On 09 December 1981 Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner was attacked and brutally murdered by Mumia Abu-Jamal. Jamal was tried and convicted of Officer Faulkner's murder and sentenced to death. To date, this death sentence has not been carried out. Not only has Jamal not been executed for this horrible murder but has been profiting from it as have others. While on Death Row, Jamal has published two books and has been able to keep the proceeds. Many businesses and individuals have rallied around Jamal and shown their support by contributing money to his cause.

Jamal has attained international notoriety because of his crime. Mumia's attorneys as well as other supporting groups stage regular speaking engagements around the world to muster support and have gathered thousands of dollars in donations. It's time to put an end to this nonsense. I urge you to take a look at the list of business and people who have shown their support for Jamal. Make a mental note of the names and boycott the businesses. Do not support those who stand behind a convicted cop-killer. National FOP President Gilbert G. Gallegos, in announcing the boycott was quoted as saying: "This is about right and wrong, It is wrong to allow companies and individuals to profit from the murder of an officer who made the ultimate sacrifice trying to protect and serve the citizens of his community. And we will not rest until Abu-Jamal burns in Hell". Below is a brief account of the events which lead to the murder of Officer Faulkner. If you wish to read all of the details of the event, trial, and all that followed, please visit the site Justice For Officer Daniel Faulkner.

These are the events of the morning of December 9, 1981 as they have been testified to in the initial 1982 Trial and the subsequent 1995 and 1996 PCRA (Post Conviction Collateral Relief Hearings.) These facts have withstood direct appeal and they represent the testimony of numerous witnesses to this crime that have been deemed "credible" by the court.

At 3:55 AM on December 9, 1981 Daniel Faulkner, a twenty five year old Philadelphia Police Officer observed a light blue Volkswagen driving down 13th Street (a one way street) the wrong way and then turning east onto Locust Street. Officer Faulkner then pulled the Volkswagen over in view of several eyewitnesses.

Prior to leaving his car, Faulkner radioed for a police wagon to back him up. Unknown to him, this would later help preserve the scene of his own murder. Officer Faulkner exited his vehicle and approached the driver's side of the Volkswagen, which was being driven by Mr. William Cook. Officer Faulkner asked Mr. Cook to exit his car. As the officer was looking away, several witnesses stated that they saw Mr. Cook punch Officer Faulkner in the face, violently attacking him. The officer responded by striking Cook, apparently with his flashlight, and then turned Cook towards the car attempting to subdue him.

For reasons that remain unknown today, sitting in a taxicab across the narrow street and watching the events as they unfolded, was William Cook's older brother, Wesley Cook (AKA Mumia Abu Jamal). According to witnesses, Mr. Jamal exited his taxi and ran across the street toward the Officer and his brother, William Cook. While Officer Faulkner was distracted by Mr. Cook, with his back turned to Mr. Jamal, Mr. Jamal was seen raising his arm and then firing one shot that found it's mark in Officer Faulkner's back. A tract Metal Test for Primer Lead done before the trial positively showed that the shot was fired from approximately 10 - 12 inches.

Officer Faulkner was able to draw his gun and fire one return shot at his assailant, Mumia Abu-Jamal. This bullet was later extracted from Mr. Jamal's upper abdomen. Having fired this shot, Officer Faulkner fell to the sidewalk. While the wounded officer lay helpless and unarmed on his back, Mr. Jamal was seen by four individuals standing over the Officer with his five shot, .38 caliber Charter Arms revolver in his hand. From approximately 3 feet, Jamal began to fire at the officer's upper body.

Officer Faulkner is believed to have been conscious at this point and to be looking up at his assailant, who was later identified by several people at the crime scene as Mumia Abu Jamal. It's believed that in an attempt to save his life, Faulkner began to roll from side to side as Jamal fired at him. Jamal missed his first several shots. He then moved closer to Faulkner and bent down over him. Mr. Jamal put the muzzle of his gun within inches of Officer Faulkner's face, and squeezed off the final, and fatal, shot. The bullet entered the officer's face slightly above the eye and came to rest in his brain, killing him instantly.