New York police officer shot dead during gunfight

A police officer was shot dead during an exchange of gunfire in East Harlem Tuesday night, New York Police Department Commissioner Bill Bratton said.

"We're all in mourning tonight. This whole city is in mourning," said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. "We're mourning a man who gave his life as a guardian for all of us."

According to Bratton, it happened around 8:30 p.m. local time, when the police officers were responding to shots being fired in the vicinity of East 102nd Street and First Avenue in the East Harlem area of Manhattan.

The exchange of gunfire took place between a male suspect and two police officers. Officer Randolph Holder was struck in the head and rushed to a nearby hospital, said Bratton.

Holder, 33 years of age, is a five-year veteran of the New York City Police Department. He was pronounced dead at 22:22 in the evening in the hospital.

He is the fourth New York City police officer murdered in this city in the last 11 months, said the police commissioner.

Police said the suspect suffered gunshot wounds to his leg and was arrested by police. He is expected to be released from the hospital later Wednesday and taken into police custody. Endi