AURORA, Colo. -- For the first time since the shooting death of an Aurora police detective, the officer's family is talking about their fallen hero.

Detective Mike Thomas was shot and killed Wednesday while sitting in his car at a busy Aurora intersection. Thomas was a highly decorated 24-year veteran of the Aurora Police Department. On Friday, Thomas' older brother was the first of the officer's family to speak publicly.

Jim Thomas said that he's always looked up to his younger brother as his hero. He said Mike was an incredible, selfless, compassionate, person who had respect for everyone. Mike was a humble and private person who would probably be embarrassed by all the attention but he deserves to be honored, Jim Thomas said.

"I've never seen him be selfish with anything his whole life and that goes from the time he was a baby until the time that he passed away here the other day. So my thoughts of him are he's my hero," Jim Thomas said.

Thomas said that Mike was so humble that he didn't even know his younger brother won the Medal of Honor in 1991, because Mike didn't brag about it.

The family, he said, is still asking why Mike was shot and killed -- apparently randomly.

"We get into why was he there at the time he was? Because apparently, the gentleman didn't even know him. So it was a misfortune. It's something that we wish would never happen. But the way we look at it is, my brother is in heaven right now. I know that because of the deeds that he did while he was on earth. Also, the way that he went, was, I think it was his time. I think God said, 'Mike, I need you, and I'm going to take you,'" said Jim Thomas.

"I will miss his leadership. I will miss his companionship. And I will miss his love," Jim said.

Jim was surrounded by family and Mike's extended family -- other police officers who had tears in their eyes, as he spoke about the fallen officer.

"I applaud everything that the Aurora police department and I would want him to be a policeman again," Jim Thomas said.

Mike loved Harley Davidsons, loved serving the people of Aurora community but most of all love his 27-year-old daughter, Nicole, who is expecting her first child. Mike died knowing that he was going to be a Granpa and was very excited about the baby, Thomas said.

His funeral will be on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 11 a.m. at the Heritage Christian Center.

The suspect in his shooting, Brian Washington is expected to appear in court on Monday.