Former President Trump will attend the wake of a New York City police officer who died in the line of duty earlier this week, his campaign announced.
On Monday, Officer Jonathan Diller died during a traffic stop in Queens, becoming the first NYPD officer to die in the line of duty in more than two years. His wake is scheduled for Thursday.
“President Trump is moved by this invitation to the family and colleagues dealing with the senseless and tragic death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt told The Associated Press. Ta.
The suspect in the shooting, the gunman and his passenger, were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday. Guy Rivera was charged with murder and Lindy Jones was charged with illegal possession of a weapon.
Police said Rivera resisted Diller’s requests to get out of his car during a traffic stop and fired at the officer, who was under a protective vest. Diller fought back and hit Rivera in the back. The officer was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer, on Tuesday called Diller’s shooting “devastating,” adding, “These are bad people doing bad things to good people. It’s good people versus bad people.”
President Trump has used crime as a political wedge issue, painting American cities as particularly dangerous and accusing Democrats of violence.
Crime statistics show that violent crime has declined in many parts of the country in recent years. Cities with a population of more than 1 million people saw an 11 percent drop in crime last year, according to FBI data released this month.
Diller’s funeral will be held in New York City on Saturday.
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