Funeral for Jason Rivera, NYPD officer at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

A funeral ceremony was held for one of the two shot NYPD officers, Jason Rivera at St Patrick’s Cathedral on 5th avenue, Manhattan, New York on Thursday (28).

22 years old Jason and his partner, 27 years old Wilbert Mora responded to a domestic violence call on Friday (21) night in Harlem
and were shot by a 47-year-old suspect, Lashawn McNeil. McNeil was also shot by a third Police officer and he later died on Monday (24).

Jason died on the same day in a nearby hospital while Wilbert who was critically injured, died 4 days later in the hospital.

The gun violence is an alarming case in the city and just in January, 5 NYPD officers have been shot.

The funeral ceremony which is only for invited guests, witnessed the presence of large numbers of Police officers on foot and on motorbikes lining up 5th avenue to pay their last tribute and with the presence of the city Mayor, Eric Adams, the Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, Jason’s widow, Dominique Luzuriaga, his mother and older brother, Jeffrey Rivera, Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, Inspector Amir Yakatally, PBA President Patrick J. Lynch, Rev. Jonathan J. Recabarren among others giving their eulogies.

Jason had just married for a short time and had no opportunity to enjoyed much of it and that made his widow, Dominique to express her sadness and dissatisfaction with the system as her only love was taken away from her at an early stage.

There was a heavy security in and around 5th Avenue up through St Patrick’s Cathedral and roads from 57 street onward were closed to vehicles.

Jason’s wake took place a day earlier and was later taken to a cemetery in Westchester County
while Wilbert Mora’s wake and funeral will take on Tuesday (02/1) and Wednesday (02/2)

By Niyi Fote/Thenews2