A New York City Police Officer was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday night while chasing a robbery suspect. According to a report from CNN, officer Randolph Holder was shot in the head in East Harlem and later died from his injuries.

On Tuesday at 8:30 pm, two housing police officers watched a shooting unfold across the street and called for assistance from the NYPD. Sitting in their car 18 blocks away, Officer Holder and his partner responded to the call.

One of the suspects involved with the shooting, Tyrone Howard, ran north and stole a bicycle at gunpoint from a bystander. Holder, now looking for a suspect who was armed and in possession of stolen property, wound up following three individuals who were not involved with either incident.

Howard approached the two officers, dismounted the bike, and brandished a gun. He shot Holder and turned to his partner, who fired at Howard. Another pair of officers arrested Howard four blocks north of the scene.

Officer Holder was the fourth NYPD officer killed on duty in the past 11 moths, and the 30^th in the U.S. so far this year. Howard was wanted in relation to a separate shooting incident and had a warrant out for his arrest. He was recommended for a criminal diversion program twice in 2014, but never attended.

Howard had been in jail for minor drug sentences, but had never committed a crime this violent. Many have spoken out against the city’s lax sentencing laws, often recommending diversion programs instead of incarceration for nonviolent offenders with repeat history.