NYPD: Suspect arrested in fatal cop shooting

A suspect has been arrested in the Tuesday night shooting death of a plainclothes New York City police officer, New York City police confirmed by telephone Wednesday night.

Randolph Holder, 33, who was assigned to the NYPD's housing unit, died Tuesday night after being shot in the head during a gunbattle in East Harlem, officials said. Holder was taken to Harlem Hospital Center in critical condition and died Tuesday at 10:22 p.m. ET.

Earlier Wednesday, police named Tyrone Howard, 30, as the suspect. Howard previously was wanted in the Sept. 1 shooting of a gang member and has a lengthy criminal history, city officials said at a news conference.

"He has shown no propensity, with the number of arrests over (a) period of time, for changing his ways," William Bratton, New York police commissioner, said. "His whole life has been about an escalation of crime."

On Tuesday night at about 8:30 p.m. ET, Holder was responding to reports of gunfire at a housing project. He and another officer, also in plainclothes, were pursuing a suspect near a pedestrian overpass when the exchange of gunfire took place, Bratton said.

During the incident, Holder’s partner, who was not identified, returned fire, hitting the suspect in the leg, Bratton said. The injured man was tracked down about four blocks away, Bratton said, and transported to a hospital. He was taken into police custody upon his release later Wednesday.

Officials said Howard’s arrest history includes busts for assault, robbery, criminal trespass, public lewdness and conspiracy. He’s also been arrested nine times on narcotics possession charges and two times for marijuana possession.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing and police are looking for witnesses, as well as other suspects who may have been involved with the initial incident. On Wednesday morning, police closed FDR Drive, where the shootings took place, as part of the investigation, The road was later reopened.

Randolph was the fourth New York officer shot and killed on the job in the past 11 months, Bratton said.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who reportedly rushed out of a fundraiser upon hearing the news, noted Holder's "exemplary record."

On Wednesday morning, the mayor ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Holder. "All flags shall be lowered to half-staff effective immediately until the day of Officer Holder’s interment, by order of Mayor Bill de Blasio," said a statement from city hall.

"This includes the American Flag, the New York State and City flags and the POW-MIA flag. Flags shall be flown at half-staff on all City buildings and stationary flagstaffs throughout the five boroughs."

"We are humbled by Officer Randolph Holder's example," de Blasio said at the press conference.

Holder was a five-year veteran of the police force, Bratton said. An immigrant, he became an officer in July 2010. He was a third-generation officer; his father and grandfather having both served in their native Guyana.

"So three generations of police in this family, and now the latest generation served here with us in the New York City Police Department, and tonight did what every other officer in the NYPD does when the call comes – he ran toward danger. It was the last time he will respond to that call.

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"I extend our deepest condolences to his family, especially his father, who, in his time of grief, sought to comfort the officers in PSA 5," Bratton added.

At a lunchtime press conference Wednesday, de Blasio said that Officer Holder "represented the best of our society." He also criticized the criminal justice system, saying that Howard was a "hardened violent criminal who should not have been on the streets."

At the same media event, Bratton said that Howard would be taking part of lineups with witnesses to the shooting. Howard, said Bratton, had been hunted since September 1 after he allegedly was involved in a gang-related shooting.

Video of Commissioner Bratton and Mayor de Blasio press conference early on Wednesday. Event starts at 24:00

De Patrick Lynch, head of the New York Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, called for support from the community.

"New York City police officers every day, we go out and carry ourselves like superheroes on the streets," he said. "But the reality is, when we're attacked, we bleed, when we bleed, we die, and when we die, we cry... these police officers need your support as we bury our fellow police officer, but it can't end there. We need your support every day, on every corner, in every neighborhood, so we can continue to carry ourselves like superheroes, so we can save you and protect you."