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COCONUT CREEK (CBS4) ― The daughters of slain federal agent Donald Pettit alternately sobbed and laughed as they shared memories of their father at a memorial service Friday Afternoon. They were joined by hundreds of law enforcement officers, friends, and Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who thanked Pettit's family for his life of service.

The service on the campus of Broward Community College in Coconut Creek followed a morning of closed viewing sessions for family and law enforcement officers.

Pettit, an internal affairs agent with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, was praised by his supervisor as a man who "devoted his superior intellect and his passion to the practice of law enforcement, his chosen profession."

Governor Crist, who spent time with Pettit's widow Ileana and hugged Pettit's two daughters, thanked them for the service Pettit gave to his community over 35 years of law enforcement.

The two-hour ceremony was marked by songs requested by the family, and highlighted by a video presentation with pictures from Pettit's life.

His daughters, a niece and a grand-nephew came to the podium with Pettit's widow and shared letters they had written about Pettit.

His youngest daughter, Gabriella, burst into tears as she tried to read her letter, so her mother filled in as she looked on. The letter praised her dad's strength and humor, and said how much she would miss him.

The letters, both touching and humorous, brought smiles to the faces of family members and laughter to the audience as each child shared stories of Pettit's humor and good nature.

When the service concluded, a law enforcement honor guard bore the body of Special Agent Pettit to a waiting hearse, for a procession to Palm Beach County and the Lake Worth VA Cemetery, where Pettit will be buried Friday afternoon.

Earlier in the morning, a judge ordered James Wonder held without bail on a charge of first-degree murder. Wonder, 65, of Miramar, appeared via closed-circuit television from jail.

On Thursday, a police reported blamed the death of agent Pettit on road rage, and paints a picture of Pettit acting aggressively against the man who now admits he pulled the trigger.

A probable cause report released by the Pembroke Pines Police Department Thursday said an argument on the road spilled out into the parking lot at the Pembroke Pines post office, where suspect Wonder and Pettit argued before Wonder pulled out a pistol and shot Pettit.

The report said Wonder and Pettit were involved in some exchange on Dykes road, where Wonder may have been driving erratically. The report said the two men exchanged places on the road, one cutting off the other car.

The report went on to say both men traded insulting middle finger gestures while on the road, which ended when Wonder pulled into the post office. Pettit passed the post office, the report said, and then turned back into the post office where Wonder had parked.

Both men got out of their car, according to the report, and continued their argument. The probable cause report said Wonder admitted reaching into his waistband, pulled out a handgun, and shot Pettit once in the head.

Authorities are solicitation donations for the Pettit family, make your contribution to:
The Pettit Family Charitable Fund
c/o Broad and Cassel
P.O. Box 14010
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302

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