Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

New York City

Fallen NYPD Det. Jason Rivera's grieving widow calls out Manhattan DA Bragg in heartbreaking eulogy

NYPD Det. Jason Rivera and Officer Wilbert Mora died after they were shot by a domestic violence suspect

Stephanie Pagones By Stephanie Pagones , Michael Ruiz Fox News
Published | Updated
close
Remembering fallen NYPD officer Jason Rivera Video

Remembering fallen NYPD officer Jason Rivera

Fox News national correspondent Bryan Llenas on the outpour of grief for the NY police officer killed in an ambush on 'America Reports.'

NEW YORK CITY – The grieving widow of slain NYPD Det. Jason Rivera called out New York City’s newly elected district attorney and a system that "continues to fail us" during her heartbreaking eulogy at her fallen husband’s Friday funeral. 

Dominique Luzuriaga Rivera fought tears as she recalled growing up with and ultimately marrying her longtime love and the moments that their lives changed forever. Rivera, only 22, was shot and killed just one week earlier while he and his partner, Officer Wilbert Mora, were responding to a domestic violence call.

Rivera was posthumously promoted to Detective First Grade. Mora, who was shot in the head, died several days after the shooting. 

REMEMBERING NYPD DET. JASON RIVERA: THOUSANDS FLOCK TO NYC'S ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL TO HONOR HERO COP

  • Image 1 of 2

    Dominique Luzuriaga, widow of fallen NYPD Det. Jason Rivera

  • Image 2 of 2

    A priest hugs Dominique Luzuriaga, the wife of NYPD Officer Jason Rivera during funeral services for Rivera, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.  (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, POOL)

"The system continues to fail us," Rivera said. "We are not safe anymore. Not even the members of the service." 

Rivera went on to talk about how her husband was "tired of these laws, especially the ones from the new D.A." 

The newly elected New York City district attorney, Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg, announced in one of his first days in office that he would be applying less stringent policies for prosecuting certain crimes. He later clarified the controversial memo, saying it gave the "wrong impression." 

MANHATTAN DA ALVIN BRAGG TRIES TO CLARIFY CONTROVERSIAL POLICY MEMO, SAYS IT GAVE 'WRONG IMPRESSION'

  • Image 1 of 9

    A New York Police officer holds a photo of Officer Jason Rivera while gathering for Rivera's funeral service, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, outside St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

  • Image 2 of 9

    Police officers stand with 'Blue Lives Matter' flag in the foreground during the funeral service for New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer Jason Rivera, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call. (. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon)

  • Image 3 of 9

    Law enforcement officers salute during the funeral service for New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer Jason Rivera, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., January 28, 2022.  (. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon)

  • Image 4 of 9

    A police officer reacts during the funeral service for New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer Jason Rivera, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., January 28, 2022. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon (. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon)

  • Image 5 of 9

    Police officers attend a funeral service for NYPD officer Jason Rivera, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., January 28, 2022. (REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado)

  • Image 6 of 9

    Calvin Hunt of Harlem holds a picture of New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer Jason Rivera, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call, during his funeral service at St. Patrick's Cathedral in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., January 28, 2022. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon (REUTERS/Jeenah Moon)

  • Image 7 of 9

    New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, walks back to her seat during a funeral service for NYPD Officer Jason Rivera Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, Rivera and his partner, Officer Wilbert Mora, were fatally wounded when a gunman ambushed them in an apartment as they responded to a family dispute last week.  (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, POOL)

  • Image 8 of 9

    Cardinal Timothy Dolan blesses the casket of NYPD Officer Jason Rivera during Rivera's funeral service, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Rivera and his partner, Officer Wilbert Mora, were fatally wounded when a gunman ambushed them in an apartment as they responded to a family dispute last week. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

  • Image 9 of 9

    New York Police officers gather for the funeral of Officer Jason Rivera, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, outside St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Rivera and his partner, Officer Wilbert Mora, were fatally wounded when a gunman ambushed them in an apartment as they responded to a family dispute last week.  (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

During her speech on Friday, Rivera said she hoped the newly minted D.A. was "watching you speak through me right now."

Bragg was in the audience at the time, Fox News has confirmed. In a statement provided via email to Fox News shortly thereafter, he said he is "grieving and praying for Detective Rivera and Officer Mora today and every day."

"My thoughts are with their families and the NYPD. Violence against police officers will never be tolerated. My office will vigorously prosecute cases of violence against police and work to prevent senseless acts like this from ever happening again."

Thousands gather for the funeral for fallen NYPD Officer Jason Rivera

Thousands gather for the funeral for fallen NYPD Officer Jason Rivera (Fox News Digital/ Michael Ruiz)

"I'm sure all of our blue family is tired too," Rivera continued. "But I promise, we promise, that your death won't be in vain."

Rivera said her husband would have been "so happy" to see the crowds honoring him "through pain and sorrow." 

Before she stepped down from the podium, she added: "I promise, we promise that your death won't be in vain. I love you to the end of time. We’ll take the watch from here." 

New York Police officers gather for the funeral of Officer Jason Rivera, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, outside St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Police officers gather for the funeral of Officer Jason Rivera, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, outside St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Earlier in the ceremony, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell posthumously promoted Rivera to Detective First Grade. 

"Only 22 years, Jason found the woman and the career of his dreams. Many don't accomplish that in their entire lifetimes," Sewell said. "He was a man of unbounded generosity, humble heart. He showed us how to be better. His selfless acts of humility have been remembered over the past week."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Sewell added: "His loss is extremely difficult. For us all to bear. Jason rose to every challenge that crossed his path. He was everything the city and the NYPD needed him to be."

Fox News' Tamara Gitt contributed to this report. 

Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. Story tips can be sent to stephanie.pagones@fox.com and on Twitter: @steph_pagones.