NYPD Officer Jason Rivera's Wake To Be Held Thursday At St. Patrick's Cathedral
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There is new information on the two NYPD officers shot in the line of duty.
The injured officer, Wilbert Mora, who remains in critical condition, after being shot on Friday night in Harlem, was transferred Sunday evening to a different hospital.
At around 5:30 p.m., Mora was moved from Harlem Hospital to NYU Langone Medical Center. Police have not said why the 27-year-old was transferred.
Earlier in the day, a solemn tribute was held for slain Officer Jason Rivera, 22, who was killed in the same altercation on Friday. Hundreds of officers lined the streets as his body was removed from the medical examiner's office in Kips Bay. He was given a hero's salute as his body, draped in an American flag, was taken inside Riverdale Funeral Home in Inwood.
A wake for Rivera will be held at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Thursday from 1 p.m.-8 p.m. Family and friends will say their final goodbyes on Friday, starting at 9 a.m., also at St. Patrick's.
There was quite a show of solidarity throughout the day Sunday, as first responders from various agencies came to stand side-by-side with the NYPD, CBS2's Kevin Rincon reported. In fact, many were on hand to watch as Officer Mora was transferred to NYU Langone.
The tragedy has left the city in mourning.
Officer Rivera's aunt said as a community, the city needs to do more.
"I just want the city to change. We're losing a lot of young lives," Maria Rivera said.
Change is the same thing Rivera wanted. That's why he choose to serve.
His desire to help others was exemplified in a video message to students after he, himself, graduated from a Washington Heights high school.
"I want y'all to hear me, hear my voice, and know that you're going to get through it," Rivera said. "Stay strong, do good in your school, and, trust me, you'll be finished soon."
One of his former teachers called Rivera a treasure.
"It's rare that you find a member of the community that literally was universally loved by everyone, and he was," David Lenzner said." His legacy is going to continue to uplift the community and bring people together."
That love could be felt as officers from far and wide lined up to watch his body go by. At the funeral home, his casket draped in the NYPD's green and white flag was rolled in to salutes.
Family friend Susana Rosario said Rivera knew from an early age he wanted to be part of New York's Finest.
"He was the person that he when he was little boy he always said he want to be a police officer, that he, when he was 8 years [old], before when he was a little boy he said that, 'I want to take care of the people.' That's why he want to be a police," Rosario said.
Rivera had just recently gotten married. His widow put up the following post on Instagram:
As for Mora, he was received at NYU Langone, surrounded by fellow officers.
At last check, the alleged gunman, LaShawn McNeil, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
CBS2's Kevin Rincon and Kiran Dhillon contributed to this report.
