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January 1, Second NYPD Officer Dies After Harlem Shooting

Published

2 years ago

January 26, 2022

A second New York City Police Department Officer has died from injuries sustained in the line of duty during a shooting in Harlem.

The NYPD confirmed that Officer Wilbert Mora, 27, died on Monday. Mora and two other officers responded to a domestic dispute on Friday night. Officer Jason Rivera, 22, was also fatally wounded.

“Today, we mourn the loss of Police Officer Wilbert Mora,” the NYPD wrote on Twitter.

“At 27-year-old, he was murdered in the line of duty — fighting until the very end. We vow to #neverforget Wilbert and will always honor his legacy of service and ultimate sacrifice.”

Today, we mourn the loss of Police Officer Wilbert Mora. At 27-year-old, he was murdered in the line of duty — fighting until the very end. We vow to #neverforget Wilbert and will always honor his legacy of service and ultimate sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/5nxzBNEDQD
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) January 25, 2022

The NYPD confirmed that the suspect, Lashawn McNeil, died on Monday.

Police said the three NYPD officers responded to a 911 call from McNeil’s mother, saying she needed help with her adult son. When the officers arrived at the Harlem apartment, McNeil opened a bedroom door and fired at them as they walked down a narrow hall, authorities said.

Officer Sumit Sulan, 27, shot McNeil. The gunman, 47, died on Monday.

McNeil’s mother, Shirley Sourzes, said she was trying to convince her son to get help for mental health issues and that she wouldn’t have called 911 had she known he was going to use violence against the officers.

“If I knew, I never would have made the phone call,” Sourzes said. “I would never have called!”

“Wilbert is 3 times a hero. For choosing a life of service. For sacrificing his life to protect others. For giving life even in death through organ donation. Our heads are bowed & our hearts are heavy,” NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a tweet.