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Hundreds attend wake for New York police officer fatally shot in foot chase Hundreds attend wake for New York police officer fatally shot in foot chase
(1 day later)
Hundreds of officers stood in the shadows of blue ribbons tied to fences and trees as they waited Tuesday to pay tribute to a policeman slain on patrol – a man remembered for his love of family and pride in his job. Hundreds of officers stood in the shadows of blue ribbons tied to fences and trees as they waited on Tuesday to pay tribute to a policeman killed on patrol – a man remembered for his love of family and pride in his job.
Officer Randolph Holder always wanted to be a policeman, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who served as officers in their native Guyana. Holder’s dream came true in 2010, when he joined the New York Police Department and began patrolling the city’s public housing complexes. Officer Randolph Holder always wanted to be a policeman, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who served as officers in their native Guyana. Holder’s dream came true in 2010, when he joined the New York police department and began patrolling the city’s public housing complexes.
“It’s in his blood,” said his commanding officer, captain Reymundo Mundo. “It’s in his genes.”“It’s in his blood,” said his commanding officer, captain Reymundo Mundo. “It’s in his genes.”
As a stream of officers wiped tears from their faces, many said they wanted to live by his example and not bury themselves in the loss, said Sgt Joe Imperatrice.As a stream of officers wiped tears from their faces, many said they wanted to live by his example and not bury themselves in the loss, said Sgt Joe Imperatrice.
“It’s never easy,” he said, recalling the funerals of NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu last December. “But anything that goes on, you’re going to put on your vest, put on your uniform and do your job right.”“It’s never easy,” he said, recalling the funerals of NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu last December. “But anything that goes on, you’re going to put on your vest, put on your uniform and do your job right.”
Holder, 33, was also remembered for the sacrifices he made for his family, his No 1 priority.Holder, 33, was also remembered for the sacrifices he made for his family, his No 1 priority.
“He was a very outgoing person, very giving and very caring, especially for the family back home,” his aunt Ruth Noel said. “It’s a great loss in Guyana, too, not just here.”“He was a very outgoing person, very giving and very caring, especially for the family back home,” his aunt Ruth Noel said. “It’s a great loss in Guyana, too, not just here.”
As Noel stood in front of the church Tuesday, she recalled memories of her time with her nephew. As Noel stood in front of the church on Tuesday, she recalled memories of her time with her nephew.
“It’s only when these people are gone that you see how good they really were,” she said.“It’s only when these people are gone that you see how good they really were,” she said.
Noel said she became overcome with emotion when she saw her nephew laid out in an open casket in the church, dressed in his full uniform, as his fellow officers wept.Noel said she became overcome with emotion when she saw her nephew laid out in an open casket in the church, dressed in his full uniform, as his fellow officers wept.
“I just couldn’t hold myself,” she said. “It’s too much for me.”“I just couldn’t hold myself,” she said. “It’s too much for me.”
Holder died 20 October after being shot in the head in Manhattan’s East Harlem neighborhood. He and his partner had been chasing a man after responding to a call of shots fired and a bicycle stolen at gunpoint. The suspect, 30-year-old Tyrone Howard, hopped off the stolen bicycle and shot Holder, authorities allege. Howard was taken into custody a few blocks away and has been charged with murder and robbery.Holder died 20 October after being shot in the head in Manhattan’s East Harlem neighborhood. He and his partner had been chasing a man after responding to a call of shots fired and a bicycle stolen at gunpoint. The suspect, 30-year-old Tyrone Howard, hopped off the stolen bicycle and shot Holder, authorities allege. Howard was taken into custody a few blocks away and has been charged with murder and robbery.
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He has not entered a plea and is due to appear in court Tuesday. His attorney has said there are many missing details in the case. He has not entered a plea and is due to appear in court on Tuesday. His attorney has said there are many missing details in the case.
Divers searching the Harlem River recovered a gun “consistent” with the weapon used to kill a police officer during a foot chase in Manhattan, the New York Police Department said Sunday. Divers searching the Harlem River recovered a gun “consistent” with the weapon used to kill a police officer during a foot chase in Manhattan, the New York police department said on Sunday.
Chief of Manhattan detectives William Aubry said the weapon was found around 3am Sunday. The gun will be tested for fingerprints and DNA, as well as test fired, to determine whether it is the same .40-caliber Glock pistol used to shoot officer Randolph Holder in the head. Chief of Manhattan detectives William Aubry said the weapon was found around 3am on Sunday. The gun will be tested for fingerprints and DNA, as well as test fired, to determine whether it is the same .40-caliber Glock pistol used to shoot officer Randolph Holder in the head.
“That firearm is consistent with the firearm that we were looking for,” Aubry said.“That firearm is consistent with the firearm that we were looking for,” Aubry said.
Shell cases from a test firing would be compared with discharged cases police recovered on 120th Street next to Holder’s body – in addition to the cases at 102nd Street where the first shots were fired, Aubry said.Shell cases from a test firing would be compared with discharged cases police recovered on 120th Street next to Holder’s body – in addition to the cases at 102nd Street where the first shots were fired, Aubry said.
The chief of detectives said the searches were a “24/7 operation” since the night of the shooting.The chief of detectives said the searches were a “24/7 operation” since the night of the shooting.
He said the scuba team’s work was “very difficult”. The gun was under 20 feet of water and “they’re on their belly and they’re searching for it by hand”.He said the scuba team’s work was “very difficult”. The gun was under 20 feet of water and “they’re on their belly and they’re searching for it by hand”.