Funeral held for murdered retired Chicago Police Officer Larry Neuman at St. Michael M.B. Church

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Voices joined together in song for the life of retired Chicago police officer Larry Neuman.

Hundreds packed St. Michael Missionary Baptist Church in West Garfield Park to honor Neuman's leadership-driven life as a man of God and a public servant.

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The funeral was held the same day as a second teen who was charged in Neuman's murder appeared in court and was charged as an adult.

"Larry Neuman was a hero in every sense of the word. Not only to his family, to his community, to his country, to his city - he was a great guy," said Rev. Paul Sims, St. Michael Missionary Baptist Church pastor.

Sims said Neuman's sudden loss is heart-wrenching for his tightly-knit community.

He was a pillar of our congregation," said Sims. "He had been a member for a long time. Loved the lord and he was loved by everybody in the church."

Neuman was killed in a shooting last week outside of his West Garfield Park home.

Investigators said Neuman was paying another man for mowing his lawn when he was approached by two suspects and later shot.

Officials also said Neuman pushed the man he was paying out of the way as gunfire erupted, likely saving that man's life. A final act of service.

"He did a lot of stuff in the community. He worked to get young men off the street. He did a lot of things that were seen and other things behind the scenes to make the community better," said Elbert Henderson, a deacon at the church.

Neuman was the longest-serving explosives specialist with the Chicago Police Department after a nearly 30 year career, before joining the TSA in 2010.

Both his TSA colleagues and fellow Chicago police officers present during the funeral Saturday to pay their respects.

He was also a pastor at his church home.

It was his devout faith that's giving his grieving community peace strength and hope.

"We know the Lord doesn't make any mistakes. That we know," said Neuman's friend Jewel Martin Smith. "We are coming together, we are uplifting each other and supporting each other."

Saturday's funeral services come just one day after Chicago Police announced the arrest of a second suspect in Neuman's murder.

The 17-year-old is facing murder charges along with 16-year-old Lazarius Watt, who is being charged as an adult.

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The 17-year-old was arrested on the South Side Thursday while Watt turned himself in last weekend.