Heartbroken Cousin Of Murdered Cop Calls For End To Tension In Wake Of Shooting
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- There was heartbreak and overwhelming grief for the families of two murdered New York City police officers, on Monday.
As CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported, a family friend laid flowers at a growing memorial outside of the home of Officer Wenjian Liu.
The pain is still fresh.
"Everybody should get to know your neighbors before you wonder. I'm crying for everybody. Too many lives lost," one neighbor said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton visited both the Liu and Ramos families at their homes on Monday. They came and went without speaking to the media.
Ramos' cousin said the growing tension between Mayor de Blasio, police, and protestors needs to end in order for the city to move forward.
"That's all we ask for. Help, let's help. Let's not criticize, let's not point fingers. Let's help each other. Let's stand together for the community and for everybody," Richard Gonzales said.
After two days of private mourning, Wenjian Liu's widow spoke publicly for the first time on Monday.
As CBS2's Weijia Jiang reported, Pei Xia Chen looked physically exhausted as her husband's brothers in blue helped her down the front steps of the family's Gravesend home.
Liu's mother was by her side wiping away both of their streaming tears.
"The Liu family would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the police department, our neighbors, the entire New York City community, friends and coworkers," Chen said.
Liu emigrated to the U.S. from China when he was 12.
He was proud to serve on the NYPD and his ability to speak multiple Chinese dialects made him an asset to the force.
He and Chen married just two months ago and were excited to start their own family.
She noted that another set of hopes were also crushed on Saturday.
"We would like to express our condolences to Officer Ramos' family. This is a difficult time for both of our families, but we will stand together and get through this together," Chen said.
Ramos celebrated his 40th birthday in December. The father and husband was also a Chaplain in training.
Emerald Garner, the daughter of Eric Garner, the daughter of Eric Garner, the Staten Island man who died after an NYPD officer placed him in an apparent chokehold, visited the scene where the officers were killed to pay her respects to their families.
She had a message for anyone who feels violence is the way to find justice for her father.
"My dad wasn't violent and to use his name is not something he would want. He was a very peaceful man. You can channel your anger into action. Don't turn to violence," she said.
Just a few blocks away from the scene there was a salute to the fallen officers from members of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
They were the first to respond to the shooting on Saturday. Their desperate attempts to save the officers were caught on video.
Pedro Adorno said he will never forget their faces.
"It broke my heart that we tried everything we could to get him back, but we couldn't," he said.
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