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'His life was senselessly taken from me' | Widow of David Dorn calls for change

Dorn was laid to rest Wednesday

ST. LOUIS — The widow of retired St. Louis police captain David Dorn spoke for just two minutes, but her message touched on the pain and suffering of her family and the community.

"His life was senselessly taken from me, from us, by an opportunist who had no regards for human life or the law," Ann Dorn said during a press conference Thursday afternoon.

"This didn't have to happen, but it must have been God's plan for David."

Surrounded by her family, Ann said she wanted her husband to be remembered for his service, as a family man and a "child of God."

"We need to come together as a community and do better," she said. "We need to teach our young people that life is very precious."

Ann Dorn thanked the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office for their work on the case and said she and her family will focus on healing.

Wednesday, hundreds of people packed the church for a private service and dozens of others stood outside. Tuesday, hundreds also attended the public viewing.

Dorn is survived by Ann, five children, 10 grandchildren and a "host of nieces, nephews, cousins," according to the program distributed at his funeral. He served 38 years with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and then served as the chief of the Moline Acres Police Department for about six years.

"During those years, he's touched so many lives as a friend, coworker, mentor and guardian," Ann said.

Dorn was shot and killed on June 2 responding to an alarm at a pawn shop where he served as a security guard. 

Thursday, police announced a third person was arrested in connection with the looting of the store. Last week, a man was charged with murder and another was charged with burglary.

RELATED: Third man arrested in connection with looting night of retired St. Louis police captain's murder

Police are still searching for other persons of interest, who are seen in surveillance video.

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