Mourners gathered Friday at a church in Queens for the wake of Officer Rafael Ramos of the New York Police Department, who was killed along with his partner in an ambush shooting last week.
Ramos, who turned 40 this month, had long been a committed member at the Christ Tabernacle Church, those who knew him said. His funeral is also scheduled there, on Saturday.
He joined the NYPD in 2012, after previously working as a school security officer. He was married and left behind two sons, a 13-year-old in middle school and one who attends Bowdoin College in Maine.
Several dozen mourners lined up ahead of the wake, as NYPD officers barricaded the area to prepare for the many people who are expected to come pay their respects.
Dozens already lining up for this afternoons wake for Officer #Ramos pic.twitter.com/ZYwS0NMXTL— ilana gold (@ilanagoldTV) December 26, 2014
Line starting for Ramos wake. @NYPDnews not allowing friends to speak to media. pic.twitter.com/1LQVurlzDu— John Asbury (@johnasbury) December 26, 2014
#NYPD Officer Ramos's hearse arriving at Christ Tabernacle for his wake. pic.twitter.com/uuZMvktiuj— Adam Janos (@AdamTJanos) December 26, 2014
@NYRogerStern Body of slain NYPD Officer Rafael Ramos arrives for wake. #1010WINS pic.twitter.com/TsPWumZTS0— NYRogerStern (@NYRogerStern) December 26, 2014
Just after noon, NYPD officers carried Ramos' casket to the church amid complete silence.
Silence as the body of fallen #NYPD officer Rafael Ramos is taken into the church for his wake in Glendale, #Queens. So, so sad. Stay w/ @abc7ny for the latest in his funeral. @nypdnews A video posted by Stacey Sager (@staceysager7) on Dec 12, 2014 at 9:23am PST
Officers streaming into wake for fallen #NYPD officer Rafael Ramos pic.twitter.com/vhcSDkzE1C— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) December 26, 2014
NYPD commissioner William Bratton arriving at Ramos' wake. pic.twitter.com/uDu7CSgdVk— John Asbury (@johnasbury) December 26, 2014
Ramos and Officer Wenjian Liu were in their patrol car in Brooklyn last Saturday when they were ambushed and killed. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself.
Investigators say Brinsley was an emotionally disturbed loner, who started off his rampage by shooting an ex-girlfriend in Baltimore. He also posted online threats to police and made references to high-profile cases of unarmed black men killed by white police officers.
The Silver Shield Foundation, a charity founded by the late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, has set aside $40,000 for the education of Ramos' sons. Bowdoin College said it would cover the older son's education costs as long as he remains a student there.
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a charity created after 9/11, says it will pay off the home mortgages of the two slain officers.
JetBlue offered free flights to police officers around the country who wanted to attend the two New York officers' funerals.
Liu's funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press