NEW YORK CITY , N.Y., Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Some 25,000 people from across the country, including police officers and politicians, are expected to attend the funeral for New York City police Officer Rafael Ramos, who was gunned down while sitting in his patrol car last week.
Vice President Joe Biden and Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has been sharply criticized for his handling of police protests in the past weeks, are among the many expected to attend the Saturday morning funeral. Ramos, 40, and Officer Wenjian Liu, 32, were shot in an ambush attack on Dec. 20. Investigators said the gunman's motive may be related to the controversial police-related shootings in the past months. The gunman, 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, killed himself after the shooting.