When police arrived on the scene, they warned Childs to drop the weapon, but he did not. Officer James Turney shot and killed him.
Turney has been suspended from the force because of an unrelated matter.
Paul's shooting has caused outrage and prompted calls for reforms at the police department. One of the several ministers who spoke praised the community for showing restraint and urged people to continue to work for change.
Outgoing Mayor Wellington Webb and Mayor Elect John Hickenlooper, along with several city council members, attended the funeral.
Also attending the funeral was Los Angeles lawyer Johnnie Cochran, who is best known for winning the acquittal of O.J. Simpson. Cochran has agreed to represent the Childs family in the event that a lawsuit is filed against the city.
"No stone will be left unturned as we seek to seek justice and to do justice, it is imperative that Paul Childs will not have died in vain," said Cochran from the podium.
Webb told mourners that he is glad that Cochran got involved because he thinks every family deserves the best representation it can get. Webb also praised Hickenlooper for coming to the funeral.
In a video tribute teachers, friends and family talked about how Paul had touched their lives. They said he was an inquisitive, funny, kind and giving child. "There was always another adventure every day," said one person.
"Everybody who knew Paul, loved Paul," said his sister Ashley. She recalled the time that he was elected the most popular student in the 5th grade and admitted that she was a little jelous. And she echoed the words of many who spoke, saying that Paul will be missed every day.
The service started at 1 p.m. and lasted over two hours. Paul Childs will be buried at Fairmount Cemetery.
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