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Slain cop Jason Rivera's wife Dominique expecting ‘miracle’ baby one year after Harlem shooting

'Although Jason won't be here in physical form to see and experience our miracle, I know he will always be here in spirit,' Dominique Rivera said

BY HANIKA KASHYAP

UPDATED JAN 24, 2023

Dominique Rivera, the wife of late NYPD officer Jason Rivera is expecting their miracle baby a year after his death (NYPD, Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The wife of a New York City police officer who was fatally shot in Harlem, New York, one year ago announced that she is expecting their "miracle" baby. Dominique Rivera, the wife of NYPD officer Jason Rivera, said on Saturday, January 21, at a memorial mass at St Patrick's Cathedral that she is pregnant with her late husband’s child.

Dominique read a speech that spoke in detail about the grief she has experienced since the loss of "my husband, partner, friend, and most importantly my soulmate," before stating the news of her pregnancy with the people present at the church, as reported by People. "One of the things I'm learning is that God works in mysterious ways. Though sorrow and pain, there can also be a rebirth. I am blessed to say that Jason and I will be expecting our miracle this spring," the mom-to-be continued.

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After a loud applause, Dominique went on, "Although Jason won't be here in physical form to see and experience our miracle, I know he will always be here in spirit watching, protecting, and loving us." She then added, "To my unborn child, my hope is with time, guidance, and love they, too, will get to know their father, and as a family, we will vow to never forget Jason's tremendous legacy of success and ultimate sacrifice."

Dominique Rivera, the wife of fallen NYPD Officer Jason Rivera, holds a flag from his casket during his funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral on January 28, 2022 in New York City. The 22-year-old NYPD officer was shot and killed on January 21 in Harlem while responding to a domestic disturbance call. Rivera's partner, Officer Wilbert Mora, also died from injuries suffered in the shooting. — Dominique Rivera, the wife of NYPD officer Jason Rivera, said on Saturday, January 21, at a memorial mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral that she is pregnant with her late husband’s child (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Jason and his partner, Wilbert Mora, were fatally shot while responding to a 911 call about a dispute between a woman and her son in Manhattan's Harlem apartment in January 2022. The two officers were fired upon unexpectedly when they went down a narrow hallway to a rear bedroom in order to locate the suspect, as per NBC. The suspect, who was identified as 47-year-old Lashawn J McNeil, was shot by a third officer on the scene and died three days later in the hospital.

Jason Rivera (L) and Wilbert Mora (R) lost their lives after being shot by a domestic violence suspect in Harlem (ODMP and NYPD) — Jason and his partner, Wilbert Mora, were fatally shot while responding to a 911 call about a dispute between a woman and her son in Manhattan's Harlem apartment in January 2022 (ODMP and NYPD)

Dominique also recounted how the past year had been “unbearable” during the memorial service, according to People. "Although I can understand that for most of you life went on, it feels like time has stopped for me. I have thought about all of the plans we made, what our lives would be like now that we are married. Thinking about the day we'd be able to make dinner for each other or wait on each other to see who comes home first. Taking yearly vacations and soaking up all the love that newlyweds feel," she said. "The pain became so unbearable that in order to cope I started to tell myself that we had separated. This was easier to accept than to acknowledge his death."