Unborn ‘miracle’ child of slain NYC cop Jason Rivera gets $20K scholarship
The unborn “miracle” child of NYPD cop Jason Rivera, who was fatally gunned down along with police partner Wilbert Mora last year, is being awarded a $20,000 college scholarship.
Rivera’s widow, Dominique Luzuriaga Rivera, told The Post that the generous gift from The First Responders Children’s Foundation to the child she conceived through in vitro fertilization is “a blessing” that will help keep her hero husband’s memory alive for years to come.
“That is amazing,” Luzuriaga Rivera said of the gift. “I just think how fortunate and how lucky this baby — who is not even born — would have [this] to lean on.
“Because for me to go to school … it was hard for me,” she said. “So to have that financial support and not think about that part and go to college stress-free, it’s a blessing.
“I can’t be more grateful than that.”
The baby is due June 5.
Jason Rivera was a 22-year-old NYPD rookie when he and Mora, 27, responded to a domestic disturbance call in Harlem on Jan. 21, 2022, and were ambushed by career criminal Lashawn McNeil.
Both cops were mortally wounded before another officer, Sumit Sulan, fatally shot McNeil.
Rivera and Mora, who was single without kids, were laid to rest after massive funeral services at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
In January, Luzuriaga Rivera, 24, announced she was pregnant with her slain husband’s child on the one-year anniversary of his death after undergoing in-vitro fertilization using his sperm, which was harvested in the hospital before he died.
“I think Jason would be just as happy as I was to find out,” she said of the baby. “He told me he likes my hair because my hair is straight. But I like his because it’s curly. I was like, I hope the baby comes out with curly hair and have beautiful, bouncy curls. And Jason had dimples.
“I hope the baby is as smart as you and independent,” she added, describing how Jason used to talk about their future child. “He’s not here, but I can see my baby and think about this baby was created by the love between him, you know, me and the father.”
The pair met in elementary school and were in “puppy love” by middle school. Despite going to separate high schools and on to college, they remained in touch and later reconnected.
“It’s definitely been hard in terms of, you know, dealing with the loss,” she said Sunday. “But the Police Department has been provided like their services, being there. They also do a lot of events honoring both police officers, Jason and Wilbert.
“That always feels good to know that he meant something,” she said. “He wasn’t just a number.”
Luziriaga Rivera credited NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell in particular with standing by her side since her husband’s death.
“Any important event there has been she has always made time, even if just for 5 minutes, to attend, to make sure that she’s there for you and anything that I need,” she said of the Big Apple’s top cop.
“So that’s nice,” she said. “To have someone to care for you that way and to care about your family. She’s always very welcoming, and I always really appreciate that from her.”
Sewell even popped up on Zoom during the expectant mom’s baby shower May 5, she said.
Jilian Crane, CEO and president of the First Responders Children’s Foundation, said the group reached out to Dominique immediately after hearing about the death of the two officers.
The idea for the scholarship came after the foundation learned that Luzuriaga was pregnant.
“This child, Baby Rivera, will be able to pursue higher education without hopefully too much financial burden,” Crane told The Post. “We can’t take away the grief. We can’t take away the sorrow. But maybe we can take away the financial [strain].”
Luzuriaga Rivera declined to say if her baby is a boy or girl.
