PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Washington state sheriff’s deputy who was fatally shot by a suspect was remembered Wednesday as an extraordinary young man who was destined for greatness in a profession he had dreamed of joining since childhood.

The funeral for Cowlitz County Deputy Justin DeRosier, 29, was packed with several thousand mourners, including hundreds of law enforcement officers who traveled from around the Pacific Northwest to honor him.

The ceremony was held at the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon, across the Columbia River from his home in Washington state, due to the size of the crowd.

DeRosier was shot April 13 while responding to a call about a disabled motorhome blocking a road. He was able to take cover and call for assistance but died in surgery a short time later in Vancouver.