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NYPD Cop Dies in
'Friendly Fire'
A line of mourners came to say goodbye to an officer taken away in the prime of life. Edwards was just 25-years-old, a two-year member of the NYPD, and was recently married.
"He's a wonderful man. It's a sad thing that this has to happen. I'm very sorry," said Evekyn Patterson, a member of Edwards' church.
It was a day for the NYPD, with every shield draped in black; a time when his brothers in blue and those Edwards knew came to honor the father of two, whose wife came with the two boys now without a father.
"I have young kids too and this is a kid. It could be one of my kids too, so I come to pay my respects to the family," said mourner Norma Harris.
There were flowers from the housing bureau, Edwards' last post before he died. Members from the department's football team came and brought their teammate's jersey while friends came wearing his picture.
"It's just a tragedy all around. Good man, good family man, good guy doing the right thing. Horrible set of circumstances," said Father James Sweeney of Our Lady of Presentation Church.
Edwards was killed Thursday night in East Harlem by fellow officer Andrew Dunton. Edwards had just gotten off work and was chasing someone who had broken into his car. Police say his service weapon was drawn when he was approached by undercover cops, who shouted for him to drop the weapon. He didn't and instead turned with his gun. Six shots rang out, three hitting the young officer and killing him.
The racial overtones of a white cop accidentally killing a black one were set aside as a community came together to say goodbye.
The department is in the middle of reminding its force the steps to take to avoid further incidents similar to this latest case that the force hopes is the last.
There will be another wake for Edwards on Wednesday. His funeral is scheduled for Thursday.