Country Star Billy Ray Cyrus Performs Song at Funeral of Fallen California Officer

At the beginning of the memorial service for Officer Natalie Corona—the 22-year old officer with the Davis (CA) Police Department who was ambushed and murdered on January 10—the thousands of mourners were surprised when country star Billy Ray Cyrus sat before a microphone and sang a song in her honor.

Officers from across the country filled the UC Davis athletic arena to capacity to remember the young officer who was killed by a man who approached her silently on a bicycle and suddenly opened fire. The suspect fled and was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Following the ceremony, the procession made its way to Arbuckle, where she was laid to rest. The surface streets were lined with citizens holding thin blue line flags and hand-painted signs with messages of support. The 30-plus mile freeway drive had multiple overpasses similarly lined with fire apparatus and civilians holding flags.