Rev. Sharpton Leads Prayer Vigil For NYPD Officer Gunned Down In East Harlem
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Rev. Al Sharpton held a prayer vigil Saturday at a growing memorial in the neighborhood where slain NYPD Officer Randolph Holder served.
Sharpton along with several dozen others laid a wreath at Holder's police precinct in Harlem and prayed for the officer and his family.
"We stand today with the Holder family as we've stood with families of violent crimes, whether by civilians or by police," Sharpton said. "We, who unapologetically fight bad policing, we unapologetically support good police and his loss is a loss to all of us." .
Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, also attended the vigil, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported. She said it's important to denounce cop killers even though a police officer was blamed in her son's death.
"I'm not a cop hater, I'm just against violence, I'm against brutality," Carr said.
Investigators said career criminal Tyrone Howard, 30, shot and killed Holder during a pursuit. Police said Howard was running from another shooting in the development.
Howard has been charged with first-degree murder and robbery and was ordered held without bail. He was also shot and wounded by Officer Holder's partner.
Meanwhile, Holder's family slammed Sharpton earlier this week, asking why he wasn't at court during the suspected killer's arraignment.
Sister Sherry Holder loudly asked where Sharpton was in light of the murder of a black police officer.
Sharpton responded with the following statement: "The murder of NYPD Officer Randolph Holder is an outrage to all of us, which is why I tweeted prayers and condolences to the family of Mr. Holder at 5:00 a.m. the morning after the shooting and why my staff attended the prayer vigil for him last night conducted by the Mayor's Clergy Advisory Council. I also made calls yesterday attempting to visit the family. I am glad Mr. Holder's sister asked where I am today and maybe she will facilitate my visiting the family and be a part of our vigil this weekend to memorialize a celebrated police officer who was killed by a menace to society. By all accounts, Officer Holder was a good man and a good police officer and we mourn his loss."
Sharpton indicated he's hoping to soon meet with the Holder family.
