Jersey City cop killer memory wall removed

A wall erected in memory of the man who allegedly ambushed a Jersey City police officer on Sunday has been torn down.

Emptied memorial wall to accused Jersey City cop killer Lawrence Campbell (@glennschuck via Twitter)

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fullop (D) tells the Jersey Journal, "I had it taken down last night," Fulop said. "I am not going to let a few residents pretend like they express the views of a great city like Jersey City."

Fulop called the memorial to Lawrence Campbell on a wall located on Orient Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard "disgusting" when it was discovered several hours after Lawrence Campbell shot rookie officer Marvin Santiago as he responded to a report of a robbery at a Walgreen's.

One resident told the Jersey Journal he was "bothered" it was taken down. "Even though it was the wrong thing to do, there were two lives lost,"

"Rest easy," ''Thug in peace" and "See u on the other side" were among the things friends wrote to Campbell on T-shirts hung on the wall. Candles, balloons and empty liquor bottles were left in front of the memorial.

Barbara Jones, Campbell's neighbor, told The Jersey Journal that the Campbell she knew was nothing like the man city officials say was lying in wait for officers to arrive before opening fire.

"He was a good man. He looked out for everybody on the block," Jones told the newspaper.

Two of the unions representing the Jersey City Police issued a statement condemning any memorial for Campbell. "Whether it's a digital or physical memorial, the union feels the same way. It's in poor taste. The killer made his choice in his actions. We need to really look at it and ask who are we really commemorating here?" Ryan Cangialosi, a spokesman for the unions, told the Jersey Journal.

A pedestrian stands at a memorial to Lawrence Campbell,(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Campbell, who didn't try to rob the Walgreen's, allegedly assaulted the store's armed security guard and snatched his gun. He told someone to watch the news later because he was "going to be famous." Campbell waited for officers to arrive and shot the 23-year-old Santiago with what police believe was the guard's weapon. Santiago's funeral is scheduled for Friday at St. Aloysius Catholic Church.