Mourners are paying their respects to a rookie New Jersey police officer slain in the line of duty over the weekend.
Hundreds of Jersey City police officers and officers from surrounding towns filed in and out of a funeral home Thursday to honor Officer Melvin Santiago.
The 23-year-old Santiago was killed while responding to reports of an armed robbery early Sunday at a 24-hour drugstore.
Authorities say the man who shot Santiago dead had grabbed a security guard's gun and waited for police to arrive before opening fire. The man also was killed.
Among those paying their respects at the wake were former Gov. Jim McGreevey, Rep. Albio Sires, former Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer.
Santiago's funeral is scheduled for Friday.
