Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 6:55 p.m.
Spokane Mayor David Condon met with the family of Delbert “Shorty” Belton today to talk about the public discussion in the wake of his murder. Mayor Condon and Barbara Belton, Mr. Belton’s daughter-in-law, released video of that conversation. Mayor Condon also issued the following statement:
“It has been a very difficult few days for the family and friends of Delbert “Shorty” Belton and the entire Spokane community as we mourn his loss. We are struggling to make sense of his murder, and the resulting conversation has generated a lot of emotion.
We can all agree that violence will not be tolerated in our community, and we must now be patient as we let the criminal justice system do its work.
Please join me in focusing your energy and attention on supporting the friends and loved ones of someone who served his country bravely. Mr. Belton deserves that honor and earned our respect as a World War II veteran and valued member of our community.
Spokane is a resilient community and has shown itself once again as one that rallies behind its friends and neighbors. I have been heartened by the outpouring of public support in this time of great tragedy.
It is a poignant reminder that this random act of violence does not in any way represent or define what the people of Spokane are all about.”
