Associated Press
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Mourners are set to begin saying their goodbyes to a rookie Jersey City police officer slain in the line of duty.
A wake for Officer Melvin Santiago is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Santiago’s funeral is scheduled for Friday morning.
The 23-year-old Santiago was killed while responding to reports of an armed robbery early Sunday at a 24-hour drug store. Authorities say the suspect, 27-year-old Lawrence Campbell, had grabbed a security guard’s gun and waited for police to arrive before opening fire. He also was killed.
Tensions in the city have been raised this week by a sidewalk memorial to Campbell erected in his neighborhood. Mayor Steven Fulop ordered the display taken down.
Police said in a leaked memo that an informant spoke of possible retaliation against police by Bloods gang members.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press