Last night another member of New York’s Finest was shot and killed by what New York’s Daily News describes as a “trigger-happy perp.” Randolph Holder, 33, “was shot in the forehead by the callous gunman, who had stolen a bike and was being pursued by cops.” He became the fourth fatality within the force over the last 11 months.
Holder, who emigrated from Guyana, was a third-generation police officer, following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps in the line of duty, [Police Commissioner Bill] Bratton said during a somber press conference at the hospital [where Holder succumbed to his wounds].
Police have the shooter in custody. He is being treated for gunshot wounds to the leg inflicted by Holder as he was going down. The suspect’s identity has not been released.
So what is the proper response to this latest tragedy? Does Randolph Holder’s job as a police officer cancel out the fact of his skin color? Will Black Lives Matter mourn another senseless death of a black man cut down in his prime? Or will they hold another pig roast, as they did in August to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown?
