Noon 2: Ofc. David Ortiz funeral
valle. and i’m denise olivas. this a live look at ysleta high school where now let’s continue our complete coverage with reporter darren hunt where hundreds of family friends are gathered right now in socorro. darren? denise and stephanie, its a very somber mood out here in socorro with the funeral service now underway here at saints peter and paul catholic church. an overflow crowd has gathered to pay their last respects to officer ortiz … ortiz was 45 years old. he was a nine- year veteran of the el paso police department but also served the socorro and horizon police departments prior to that. ortiz was a 1989 graduate of ysleta high school. his funeral procession will drive past ysleta high prior to his burial at mount carmel cemetery this afternoon. that should be quite an emotional scene. denise will have more on the funeral processio in just a moment. this was the scene about 30 minutes ago as ortiz’s hearse arrived at the church, led by his fellow motorcycle patrol officers. ortiz leaves behind a wife, a son and a daughter, which makes this even more tragic. he was at a red light when a fast-moving car rear view ended him back on march 10th. he died monday at a local hospital. no charges have been funeral procession once the mass is over. a police escort will take officer ortiz west on north loop to yarbrough– south on yarbrough to alameda– and then east on alameda toward ysleta high school– officer ortiz’s alma mater. police say drivers should expect closures and delays until about two this afternoon. at ysleta high school is where officer ortiz will be honored by hundreds of students. photojournalist david avila has been there all morning– and he spoke with some students about today’s solemn day: “it’s a real honor… time of grief” ysleta officials say ortiz was a 1988 graduate of ysleta. shortly we’ll see students including organizations like the drum corps and jrotc fill the lawn. we’re told the students will stand out there in silence until every car in the procession passes.
