On Sunday, a grieving widow posted a heartfelt tribute to her deceased husband and late New York City Police Officer, Jason Rivera, after the 22-year-old policeman was killed in what is being described as an “attack on the city of New York” while responding to a domestic violence call last Friday.
Rivera’s widow posted an Instagram photo of Rivera’s locker at his police station with a touching note. The unnamed woman wrote, “Yesterday I visited the locker room where you used to FaceTime me at [sic] during your mealtime or right before you had to go downstairs to the muster room for roll call at 15:00.”
“Last night was supposed to be your day 5 & you were RDO [off] for the next three days,” she said. “We both waited for your RDO’s to spend them together. But now your soul will spend the rest of my days without me, throughout me, right beside me,” the widow wrote.
“I love you till the end of time,” she added.
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Last week, the New York Post reported that alleged career criminal 47-year-old Lashawn McNeil opened fire on Rivera, as well as fellow officer Wilbert Mora, after the two responded to a domestic violence disturbance call from his mother. McNeil reportedly started shooting “without warning” after 6:00 pm on Friday evening. Mora is being treated for injuries. A third officer was present at the incident as well and returned fire, striking McNeil in the arm and head. McNeil is currently in the hospital as well.
The Daily Wire previously reported that New York City Mayor Eric Adams had called for federal help in response to the increased violence in New York City in statements made responding to this incident.
“I wanted everyone to be in the same room,” Adams said at the press conference. “I wanted everyone to be here to understand: It is our city against the killers.”
“It is our city against the killers,” he explained. This was just not an attack on three brave officers, this was an attack on the city of New York. It is an attack on the children and families of this city, and we are not going to win this battle by dividing lines between us. We must save this city together.”
Rather than blaming McNeil, Adams criticized the presence of illegal firearms in the city.
“Let me be clear: there are no gun manufacturers in New York City,” he said. “We don’t make guns here. How are we removing thousands of guns off the street, and they still find their way into New York City? In the hands of people who are killers, constantly carving highways of death, destroying our communities. We need Washington to join us and act now to stop the flow of guns in New York City and cities like New York.”
“We are all witnesses. We have witnessed these murders, and we have witnessed the failure on the federal level to stop the flow of guns to this city. We are … standing united against these killers, and those who are arming them,” Adams continued.
“We’re going to find these guns, and we’re going to find those who carry them and use them,” Adams said. “We are committed to ending this violence.”
It is unclear when the trial for McNeil will begin. In front of the building where the tragedy occurred, dozens of mourners had left remembrances and candles for Rivera. He and his wife had been married only three months before he was shot to death.