Delco cop killer dies in prison
Thomas James "Tom Thumb" Campbell, an outlaw biker sentenced to life for killing Upper Darby Police Officer Dennis McNamara in 2002, has died in prison.
Thomas James "Tom Thumb" Campbell, an outlaw biker sentenced to life for killing Upper Darby Police Officer Dennis McNamara in 2002, has died in prison.
Wendy Shaylor, spokeswoman at Graterford Prison, said Campbell, 65, died of apparent natural causes on Wednesday.
Campbell's death was first reported by the Delaware County Daily Times.
Police had been looking for Campbell for two years on weapons charges when McNamara, 43, unwittingly found him late on Jan. 30, 2002, while investigating a suspicious vehicle.
Campbell shot McNamara, an eight-year veteran of the force, in the face and fled. State police captured Campbell in Bucks County.
Authorities had warned those looking for Campbell that he "will shoot police."
On the first day of his trial in 2003, Campbell pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison, plus 5 to 10 years for a firearms violation.