Long Island School Honors Slain NYPD Detective Brian Moore

NORTH MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island town paid tribute Friday to a New York City police officer killed in the line of duty this year.

Schoolchildren at the Eastplain Elementary School in North Massapequa dedicated a tree to slain NYPD Detective Brian Moore.

The 25-year-old was shot during a traffic stop in Queens on May 2 and died two days later.

His father, retired NYPD Sgt. Raymond Moore, was moved to tears during the ceremony, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.

"This was his elementary school, it's just so nice that the kids pay respect to Brian and realize what he and policemen do, they go out every day just to do their job and he gave the ultimate sacrifice in doing so," he said.

The Callery Pear tree was grown from seedlings from the "survivor tree" at ground zero, Principal Emily O'Brien said. The tree survived the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

"It is most fitting to lovingly honor Brian's legacy with a tree representing the core of survival and hope," O'Brien said.

Raymond Moore, a 9/11 responder, said the family will watch the tree grow.

"We walk down the block here, we'll see it all the time," he said.

Moore, 25, was shot in the face by an armed suspect while on patrol with partner Officer Erik Jansen, 30. The officers were in an unmarked cruiser and tried to stop 35-year-old Demetrius Blackwell after they saw him adjusting his waistband, investigators said.

Blackwell allegedly opened fire before the officers could get out of their car.

Blackwell has pleaded not guilty in Moore's death.