Funeral arrangements have been set for the slain NYPD officer from Massapequa who died Monday after he was shot in the head by an alleged gunman in Queens Village.
A wake will be held at Chapey & Sons Funeral Home in Bethpage for Officer Brian Moore on Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The fallen officer’s funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Seaford on Friday.
Police said Moore, 25, a member of the 105th Precinct’s anti-crime team, was shot in the head Saturday allegedly by 35-year-old Demetrius Blackwell while on patrol in the vicinity of 212th Street and 104th Ave.
Blackwell, an ex-con who previously spent five years in prison for attempted murder, was initially charged with first-degree attempted murder, but the charges are likely to be upgraded to first-degree murder after Moore succumbed to his injuries Monday.
Remembering Police Officer Brian Moore http://t.co/cLm88pW6mh pic.twitter.com/egXPGpqpp0
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 4, 2015
Officer Moore and his partner were both in plainclothes and sitting inside an unmarked patrol car when they spotted Blackwell “adjusting an object in his waistband,” in the Queens Village section of South Queens at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said.
Moore, the driver, pulled up behind Blackwell and inquired about his actions, Bratton said. That’s when police said Blackwell allegedly turned toward the officers and fired several shots, striking Officer Moore in the head.
“Both officers were still seated in the vehicle and did not have an opportunity to get out or return fire,” Bratton said. Moore has been described as a dedicated officer born into a police family. Both his father and uncle are retired NYPD sergeants and he has a cousin who is also a police officer, officials said.
“Officer Moore did God’s work, like his father and his uncle before him,” Bratton said Monday. “He was doing God’s work when he confronted a felon. He was doing it when he was struck down. He did it to prevent crime and disorder, and to keep the community free from fear. He did it to make New York City safer and fairer.”
Nassau County police released a statement late Monday expressing “its deepest regret and sadness” over Moore’s death.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday ordered flags on all state government buildings to be flown at half-staff in memory of the slain officer and Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano ordered flags at half-staff on county buildings through June 2.
“Like so many of his brothers and sisters in uniform, Officer Moore served with selflessness and courage, and he will be greatly missed,” Cuomo said.
