Mayor: Suspect in NY Cop Killing a “Hardened Criminal”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the man who shot and killed a New York Police Department Officer Tuesday night is a “hardened criminal” and shouldn’t have been out on the streets. 

Mayor Bill de Blasio called on the city and criminal justice system to do more to protect the community and officers. 

Authorities identified 30-year-old Tyrone Howard as the man they believe killed NYPD Officer Randolph Holder. 

Holder was shot in the head Tuesday while pursuing a robbery suspect, who police now say is Howard. 

His partner returned fire, injuring Howard. 

Holder was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries a few hours later. 

Howard was arrested a few blocks away from the scene and taken to a hospital for gunshot wounds to the leg. 

New York Police Department records show that Howard has a lengthy criminal record including 20 prior arrests, some for violent crimes. 

He also had warrants out for his arrest. 

Howard was also wanted for questioning in connection to another shooting on September 1 in Manhattan.  

Police took three other men into questioning for their possible involvement in Holder’s death.  

Officer Holder, 33,  was a third generation police officer, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. 

He was a five year vet of the New York Police Department.

Holder is one of four officers killed in the line of duty in New York this year. 

Nationwide, there have been 31 police officers killed in the line of duty so far this year.