'Tis the season for the Salvation Army to try to get as many donations as possible, in those old familiar red kettles. Sadly, on Christmas Eve, no less, a Salvation Army worker was shot and killed in front of his three young children by a man who was attempting to rob him. The incident took place outside the charity's community center in North Little Rock, Arkansas, a Salvation Army official said Friday.

Police said that they are looking for the two men who accosted Salvation Army Maj. Philip Wise, 40, outside the community center about 4 PM Thursday. So far, no arrests have been made.

Wise had gone to the community center with his children to pick up his wife, Cindy, who is also a Salvation Army major. They were to drive to his mother's home in West Virginia. As he neared the side door, two men approached him, carrying handguns.

One of the men demanded money and shot Wise. Cindy Wise, inside the center, called 911. The Wises had just adopted their children last year. They are aged 4, 6 and 8, and are siblings who came from an abusive family.

Wise was originally from Weirton, West Virgina, and his wife, Cindy, was from Charleston, West Virginia. They met 16 years ago at a Salvation Army school in Atlanta. Both had worked for the Salvation Army ever since.

Originally on SNAFU-ed