Family of slain NYPD officer wants to know why his suspected killer was free

NEW YORK (WABC) -- As the distraught family of slain NYPD Officer Randolph Holder makes plans for the funeral of their 33-year old son, they are asking the question, why was suspected killer Tyrone Howard free, and why was a violent criminal allowed to join a drug diversion program instead of being in prison?

"I got a glimpse of him, it was very important to see who did it, to see the type of individual. Sometimes you visualize what he thinks," said the officer's father, Randolph Holder Sr.

No one may ever truly know what Howard was thinking as he allegedly rode a stolen bicycle and engaged in a cops and robbers style shootout on the FDR Drive Tuesday evening.

But having the chance to look him dead in the eye is why members of the officer's family want to see him in court.

"We just wanted to see who really did this to my son, their nephew, friend," said Holder.

Randolph Holder Sr. is taking all of this in with strength and grace. The 30-year old suspect, nearly the same age as his son, has been arrested 18 times since he was 13 and has four felony drug convictions.

("What are your thoughts when you hear that he was allowed to participate in this diversion program?", we asked.)

"That just shows that there's no justice where certain crimes are concerned," he said.

"The answer to that is that this is a broken system," said Rev. Dr. Les Mullins, senior pastor of the Church of Nazareth. "The answer to that is that he should never have been out in the first place. The answer to that is that he had an extensive record. And the answer to that is that even if he's out, somebody should be on his tail every single day."

On the flip side, Holder, a 33-year old on the force for five years, is described as the portrait of integrity and good character.

"It's sad that somebody of that nature who's just good, is a good man, is basically taken away from us in such a manner," said Rev. Mullins.