Funeral held for slain New York City police Officer Jonathan Diller

NEW YORK (AP) — A procession of New York Police Department officers, on foot and driving motorcycles, escorted the remains of their slain colleague, Jonathan Diller, to a Long Island church for his funeral service Saturday.

The solemn cry of bagpipes and drums hailed Diller's arrival at Saint Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Massapequa Park, New York.

“The city is mourning a cop. The tens of thousands of police officers outside are mourning a brother in arms. But Stephanie and Ryan are mourning their everything,” said Rev. Michael Duffy, naming Diller’s surviving wife and 1-year-old son in a homily delivered inside the church.

Diller, 31, who was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop, was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.

The services Saturday follow two days of wakes this week that drew thousands of visitors, including former President Donald Trump, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, who also spoke at the funeral Saturday.

Diller’s widow celebrated his dedication as a father, police officer and husband.

“He wasn’t the type to sugarcoat anything, so I won’t sugarcoat this. This is devastating. It’s a devastating and tragic loss,” Stephanie Diller said

Police say Jonathan Diller and his partner were investigating an illegally parked SUV when a passenger in the car, Guy Rivera, shot Diller below his ballistic vest. Diller's partner returned fire, wounding Rivera.

Adams said at the funeral Saturday that even after he had been shot, Diller fought back and disarmed Rivera.

“He ran towards danger, taking risks, making arrests and undoubtedly saving lives," Adams said.

Rivera is charged with first degree murder and other crimes, and the driver of the SUV is charged with weapons offenses. Attorneys representing the men have not responded to requests for comment.

Family members react during a funeral service for New York City Police Department officer Jonathan Diller at Saint Rose of Lima R.C Church in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Diller was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop. He was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.(AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

Police officers carry the casket during a funeral service for New York City Police Department officer Jonathan Diller at Saint Rose of Lima R.C Church in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Diller was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop. He was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.(AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

Jonathan Diller 's wife Stephanie Diller and her son arrive during a funeral service for New York City Police Department officer Jonathan Diller at Saint Rose of Lima R.C Church in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Diller was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop. He was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.(AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

Family members react during a funeral service for New York City Police Department officer Jonathan Diller at Saint Rose of Lima R.C Church in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Diller was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop. He was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.(AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

Police officers carry the casket during a funeral service for New York City Police Department officer Jonathan Diller at Saint Rose of Lima R.C Church in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Diller was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop. He was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.(AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

Police officers carry the casket during a funeral service for New York City Police Department officer Jonathan Diller at Saint Rose of Lima R.C Church in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Diller was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop. He was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.(AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

An officer pass out during a funeral service for New York City Police Department officer Jonathan Diller at Saint Rose of Lima R.C Church in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Diller was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop. He was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.(AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

The casket containing New York Ciity Police department officer Jonathan Diller's body arrives at Saint Rose of Lima R.C Church in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Diller was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop. He was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.(AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

Police officers carry the casket during a funeral service for New York City Police Department officer Jonathan Diller at Saint Rose of Lima R.C Church in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Diller was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop. He was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.(AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

Police officers carry the casket during a funeral service for New York City Police Department officer Jonathan Diller at Saint Rose of Lima R.C Church in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Diller was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop. He was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.(AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

HONG KONG (AP) — Prominent Hong Kong political and business leaders paid tribute Monday to the city's late billionaire property tycoon Lee Shau-kee, who led one of the biggest real estate empires in the former British territory.

Lee, who died at age 97 on March 17, was once ranked as the richest man in Asia. In Forbes’ February ranking, he was listed as the city’s second-richest person with $29.2 billion in assets.

Lee founded Henderson Land Development Co. Ltd. in 1976, and his empire helped shape the Asian financial hub's skyline. The company's portfolio includes landmarks such as the International Finance Centre complex and ifc mall in Central, a vibrant commercial district. His business interests also expanded into other sectors such as hotels, utilities and ferries in the city.

Nicknamed “Uncle Four," Lee was ranked the richest person in Asia and the world's fourth-wealthiest person by Forbes in 1996. He was Henderson Land's chairman and managing director before stepping down from the position in 2019. He was succeeded by his sons, Peter Lee and Martin Lee, the company’s co-chairpersons.

Like other tycoons, who rose in the city's postwar economic boom and then thrived as mainland China abandoned orthodox Marxism, Lee met with former top Chinese leaders, including Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin. In 2007, a decade after the end of British colonial rule, the Hong Kong government awarded him the Grand Bauhinia Medal in recognition of his outstanding contributions to education and community service.

According to Henderson Land, committee members overseeing his funeral included Hong Kong's leading official, John Lee, former city leaders Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying, and Zheng Yanxiong, director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong. Other business and political heavyweights were also part of the committee.

On Sunday, Zheng, Lee and other former and current government officials, as well as Richard Li, the younger son of Hong Kong's richest person Li Ka-shing, and property tycoons Thomas Kwok and Raymond Kwok, paid their respects to Lee during a vigil.

Buddhist rites were performed during the service on Monday. His body will be transported to his ancestral homeland in Shunde district, Guangdong province, the coastal region in southern China across from Hong Kong where Lee, like so many top Hong Kong business leaders, was born. He moved to the city in 1948, one year before the communists swept to power in mainland China, targeting land owners as they went, and became a key player in the city's real estate industry.

Known as Hong Kong’s “Warren Buffett” for his investment acumen, he was also a leading philanthropist who contributed significantly to the development of both Hong Kong and mainland China.

FILE - Henderson Land Development's founder and chairman Lee Shau Kee attends a news conference as he announces his retirement after the company's general meeting in Hong Kong, Tuesday, May 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, file)