NYPD cop killer Tyrone Howard collapses to his knees in courtroom

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Tyrone Howard, 30, was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday over the shooting death of NYPD officer Randolph Holder, 33, on Tuesday
Howard had been arrested 28 times since the age of 13
He was imprisoned in 2007 and 2013 on drug-related charges
Recently wanted in connected to a drug-related shooting on September 1
NYPD's Chief of Manhattan Detectives William Aubry said Wednesday he has avoided being captured 10 times since then

Published: 20:18 EST, 21 October 2015 | Updated: 07:21 EST, 22 October 2015

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A hardened criminal who escaped prison time on a number of occasions has been charged over the shooting death of a NYPD officer this week.

Tyrone Howard, 30, has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery following the slaying of Randolph Holder on Tuesday night in East Harlem.

Howard - who had been wanted in relation to the drug-related shooting of a man in the Lower East Side on September 1 but has managed to evade authorities 10 times since - was arraigned on Wednesday night, with the victim's parents seated behind him in court.

Dozens of Holder's family and friends - many of them police officers and colleagues - piled into Manhattan Criminal Court to see Howard's charges be handed down.

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Tyrone Howard (center) collapses to his knees as he appears at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday night, where he was charged with shooting dead a NYPD officer

Tyrone Howard appears at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on October 21

Tyrone Howard (lower right) collapses to his knees as he appears at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday night, while the parents of victim Randolph Holder (left) look on behind him

Howard had been the subject of a weeks-long manhunt by detectives in connection with a gang-related shooting last month, officials said Wednesday

Police also say that Tyrone Howard, 30, has been wanted in relation to the drug-related shooting of a 28-year-old man in the East River Houses on September 1 but has managed to evade authorities 10 times since

Howard, described as a hardened criminal, has been arrested 28 times since he was 13. He is now 30

Dozens of family and friends of Randolph Holder walking into Manhattan Criminal Court for the arraignment

NYPD officer Randolph Holder, 33, was gunned down in East Harlem on Tuesday night. On Wednesday scores of his family and friends attended the arraignment of his alleged killer

Solemn: Randolph Holder Sr., the victim's father, exits Manhattan criminal court following the arraignment of Tyrone Howard

Earlier on Wednesday, officials explained parts of Howard's extensive criminal history.

'You're talking about an individual that was arrested 28 times since the age of 13. You're talking about 23 adult arrests, you're talking about 5 minor arrests,' NYPD's Chief of Manhattan Detectives William Aubry told reporters, Gothamist reported.

'He's avoided us 10 different times (since September 1).'

Howard was arrested and hospitalized for allegedly shooting NYPD officer Randolph Holder, 33, in the forehead in East Harlem about 9 p.m. on Tuesday night.

Holder was pronounced dead in hospital some time later.

Police say that Howard was involved in a gun battle on the roof of the building at 420 East 102nd Street.

Gunned down: Tyrone Howard, 30 (left), has been charged with the shooting death of NYPD officer Randolph Holder (right), who was gunned down in East Harlem

Howard fled the scene and robbed a passing bystander of his bicycle at gunpoint.

Officer Holder and his partner, both in plain clothes, were on foot patrol nearby and were called to the scene.

According to Aubry, Howard put down the bike as the officers approached him and opened fire.

One of the shots hit Holder in the head.

Holder's partner, Officer Omar Wallace, fired back at Howard, hitting him in the leg.

Howard was taken into custody but has not yet been charged.

New York Police block the FDR Drive in East Harlem on Wednesday where the shooting of officer Randolph Holder occurred on Tuesday

New York Police investigate the scene of the fatal shooting on Wednesday. Holder is the fourth NYPD officer to be killed in the last 10 months

Police officers, including one with a metal detector, work at the scene of the fatal shooting in New York on Wednesday

New York Daily News reported that Howard's arrest history includes 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.

He was imprisoned in 2007 and 2013 on drug-related charges.

In another incident in 2009, he and another suspect were arrested in relation to the shooting of an 11-year-old girl.

Howard was also arrested last fall, along with 18 other members of an alleged group of drug dealers working out of the East River Houses.

However instead of being taken to Rikers Island, Howard was enrolled in a drug diversion program.

'If ever there's a candidate not to be diverted it would be this guy,' NYPD Commission Bill Bratton said Wednesday.

'He's a poster boy for not being diverted ... his whole life has been about an escalation of crime.'

A police officer says a silent prayer at the makeshift memorial to honor New York City Police Department Officer Randolph Holder outside the police station where he was based

A New York Police officer bows his head near the scene where the shooting of officer Randolph Holder occurred in Manhattan

A memorial is seen outside Police Service Area (PSA) 5 where New York Police Officer Randolph Holder, who was shot and killed Tuesday night, was based in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan in New York

Holder's father, also called Randolph, said that his son had 'always wanted to be a cop, just like his dad'.

He paid tribute to a 'fun-loving, caring young man, always with a smile on his face', telling the New York Post: 'He always wanted to join the police force because I was in the police force in Guyana.'

His father said and that he had dated Malika Clarke-Yarde, 33, since they were both 14 and recently split although they remained close with him helping her raise her child although he was not the father.

Clarke-Yarde, 33, told The Post: 'He was a very, very good man, admired by all.

'He was the best guy ever.'

She added that he had chatted with her recently about the dangers of his job.

'I spoke to him recently about his work and he just told me 'You don't know. You don't know where I work, you don't know how I have to stand up and make my money when the night comes. You don't know the people I have to deal with'.'

His cousin Natalie Andrews told The Post that Holder loved being a police officer.

'My father was talking to him [recently] and asked him, `Are you sure you want to be a cop?' He said, `Yes, this is my passion. I'm not afraid. I can handle it.'

NYPD OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY

Randolph Holder is the fourth NYPD officer to be killed in the the past 10 months.

On December 20, officers Wenjian Liu, 32, and Rafael Ramos, 40, were ambushed and assassinated by a gun-toting man in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Ismaaiyl Brinsley, a cop-hating gunman targeted them because he was angry over the racially tinged deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, who died at the hands of police.

Officer Brian Moore, 25, was patrolling in an unmarked police car with his partner Erik Jansen on May 9 near 212th Street and 104th Avenue in Queens when he was gunned down and killed. He had been trying to question Demetrius Blackwell, 35, who had been suspiciously playing with something in his belt.

Bratton said the suspect was apprehended at 124th Street with a wound in the leg by a bullet before he was transported to Weill Cornell Medical center.

Bratton said the suspect is expected to be released from the hospital on Wednesday morning.

He also said three other males were taken into custody and were also being questioned.

Around 100 uniformed and plainclothes officers - and at least two priests - had gathered in a hallway inside Harlem Hospital and held vigil for Holder on Tuesday.

There were emotional scenes as police officers formed a line outside Harlem Hospital Center as Holder's body passed by them in an ambulance early Wednesday morning.

Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch told the New York Daily News: 'New York City police officers everyday go out and carry themselves on the street like superheroes on the street,'

'But the reality is, when we're attacked, we bleed. When we bleed, we die. And when we die, we cry.'

On Tuesday night, police responded to reports of gunshots fired and an armed man fleeing on a bicycle on near 102nd Street in East Harlem, source said (scenes from the incident shown above)

Bratton said the suspect was apprehended at 124th Street with a wound in the leg by a bullet before he was transported to Weill Cornell Medical Center

Police sources said at least one gun and a bike was recovered at the scene, according to CBS New York.

During the press conference Bratton extended his deepest condolences to Holder's family and said that the officer is the fourth NYPD cop to be murdered in the line of duty in 11 months.

'Four police officers murdered in 11 months - that's as bad as it gets,' Bratton said

Holder joined the department in July 2010, as well as his father, his grandfather was also a police officer in Guyana.

Police sources said at least one gun was recovered at the scene following the shooting

Witnesses reported several males fleeing and while at the scene, a victim told the responding officers that his bike had been stolen at gunpoint, Bratton (pictured) said

Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured) said: 'We are humbled by Officer Randolph Holder's example of service, courage and sacrifice'

Mayor Bill De Blasio, who had rushed to the hospital when he was told of the shooting, said during the press conference that they are mourning 'a man who gave his life as a guardian'.

'We are all in mourning tonight, this whole city is in mourning. We are mourning a man who gave his life as a guardian for all of us,' he said.

'And we are humbled by officer Randolph Holder's example. An example of service and courage and sacrifice.

New York City police officers everyday go out and carry themselves on the street like superheroes on the street. But the reality is, when we're attacked, we bleed. When we bleed, we die. And when we die, we cry.

Patrolmen's Benevolent Association president Patrick Lynch

'Our hearts are heavy and we offer our thoughts and prayers to his family, who are experiencing unimaginable pain as we saw earlier when we gathered with them.

'Our thoughts and prayers are also with his fellow officers from PSA 5 and his larger NYPD family.'

He also thanked the medical staff for doing everything they could to save Holder's life and called his record as an officer 'exemplary'.

On Twitter, de Blasio wrote: 'New Yorkers, please keep the @nypdnews Officer who was shot on duty tonight in your thoughts.'

A witness to the shooting Angelique Martinez, 47 told New York Post: 'I heard so many gunshots.

'It sounded like there was a shootout outside my building. It's really scary.'

Another John Lucero, 19, told the New York Daily News he saw the shooting from his apartment.

'There were six or seven shots, they were exchanging fire.

'There were three of them, one police officer and two other men. Cops were pointing at a body. It was a police officer. He was just lying there.'

Bratton said the investigation is ongoing.