Trump plans to attend the wake of slain New York City police officer

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is planning to attend the wake for a New York City police officer who was fatally shot during a traffic stop this week, according to his campaign.

Trump, the 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is expected to be at a visitation Thursday on Long Island for Officer Jonathan Diller, the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.

“President Trump is moved by the invitation to join NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller’s family and colleagues as they deal with his senseless and tragic death,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

The Queens-born Republican has repeatedly raised the issue of crime in the Big Apple on the campaign trail and ahead of his own hush-money criminal trial in Manhattan. In a social media post Tuesday, he noted police said Diller’s alleged shooter, Guy Rivera, had numerous prior arrests, declaring that he “NEVER should have been let back out on the streets.”

The news came Wednesday after a second suspect in the shooting, Lindy Jones, was arraigned on weapons charges.

Police said Jones, 41, was behind the wheel of an SUV, with Rivera in the passenger seat, that was illegally parked at a bus stop in the Far Rockaway neighborhood shortly before 6 p.m. Monday when Diller and his partner approached the vehicle.

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