NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on the fatal shooting of a New York Police Department officer during a gunbattle and chase involving a stolen bicycle (all times local):

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6 p.m.

City officials say the Empire State Building will be lit blue to honor the memory of slain New York City police officer Randolph Holder.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday night's tribute honors a brave man whose mission was to protect New York.

He says Holder exemplified the best of the NYPD.

The 33-year-old officer died after a gunfight with a suspect Tuesday night in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood.

Holder responded to a call of shots fired and a bicycle stolen at gunpoint before he and his partner chased a suspect.

Police say the suspect, 30-year-old Tyrone Howard, opened fire, striking the officer in the head.

Howard is in police custody and expected to be charged Wednesday. It isn't clear whether he has a lawyer who could comment on the allegations.

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5:40 p.m.

A state Supreme Court justice says he made the right decision last year when he referred a suspect now accused of killing a New York City police officer to a diversion program after a drug arrest.

Edward McLaughlin told The Associated Press Wednesday 30-year-old Tyrone Howard had no convictions for violent offenses when he was picked up with 18 others for selling drugs.

McLaughlin says previous prison stints hadn't seemed to change his behavior. And he says a social worker's five-page report detailing Howard's rough childhood and addiction to PCP convinced him diversion was appropriate.

Police Commissioner William Bratton said at an earlier news conference Howard was a "poster boy" for candidates who shouldn't qualify for the program.

Howard is suspected of fatally shooting NYPD Officer Randolph Holder Tuesday night. He hasn't been charged.

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3:30 p.m.

A spokesman for the New York state court system says a career criminal accused of killing a police officer was the "perfect candidate" to be freed from jail as part of a diversion program.

Police Commissioner William Bratton said Wednesday that 30-year-old Tyrone Howard was "the poster boy" for candidates who shouldn't qualify for the program.

But state court system spokesman David Bookstaver says Howard qualified because he was charged with selling and possessing drugs and was addicted.

Howard is accused of killing New York Police Department Officer Randolph Holder on Tuesday night.

He was charged last year with criminal sale of a controlled substance and pleaded guilty in May.

Howard is in police custody. It isn't clear whether he has a lawyer who could comment on the allegations.

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3 p.m.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the fatal shooting of a New York City police officer is another example of the growing crisis of gun violence.

Cuomo told reporters Wednesday that the slayings of police officers "has to stop."

The governor's comments come a day after New York Police Department Officer Randolph Holder was fatally shot during a gunfight.

Holder responded to a call of shots fired and a bicycle stolen at gunpoint in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood. He and his partner chased the suspect, who opened fire.

Police say 30-year-old Tyrone Howard shot the officer in the head during the gunfight.

Howard is in police custody and expected to be formally charged Wednesday. It isn't clear whether he has a lawyer who could comment on the allegations.

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2:40 p.m.

JetBlue Airways says it will offer free flights for police who want to attend the funeral of a slain New York Police Department officer.

The company says it is honored to help shuttle the officers wishing to pay tribute to a fallen comrade.

Police Commissioner William Bratton said at a news conference Wednesday that funeral arraignments for Officer Randolph Holder were still being finalized.

Holder was shot in the head Tuesday evening as he responded to calls of shots fired and a bicycle stolen at gunpoint. Holder and his partner chased the suspect, who opened fire.

Thirty-year-old Tyrone Howard was taken into custody after the shooting and is expected to be charged Wednesday. It isn't clear whether he has a lawyer who could comment on the allegations.

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2:30 p.m.

Authorities say a career criminal accused of killing a New York City police officer had been arrested last year and freed from jail as part of a diversion program.

Police also say 30-year-old Tyrone Howard was wanted in connection with another shooting last month.

Police Commissioner William Bratton said Wednesday that Howard had shown an increasing level of violence. Bratton says he shouldn't have been on the streets.

Bratton says, "If ever there was a candidate not to be diverted, it would be this guy."

Howard is accused of fatally shooting Officer Randolph Holder Tuesday night.

He was charged last year with criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Howard is in police custody and it isn't clear whether he has a lawyer who could comment on the allegations.

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1:45 p.m.

Police say a man suspected of fatally shooting a New York Police Department officer had been wanted in connection with another shooting last month.

NYPD Chief of Department James O'Neill said Wednesday that 30-year-old Tyrone Howard had been wanted in connection with a September shooting in Manhattan.

O'Neill says investigators suspected Howard shot at a member of the East Army gang on Sept. 1. He says police had been trying to arrest Howard but could not find him.

The chief says Howard didn't show up at his court appearances and wasn't home when investigators went there.

Howard is accused of fatally shooting Officer Randolph Holder Tuesday night after a chase.

He is in police custody and it isn't clear whether he has a lawyer who could comment on the allegations.

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11 a.m.

New York City police have identified the man suspected of shooting and killing an officer after a bicycle robbery.

Police on Wednesday named 30-year-old Tyrone Howard as the man they believe killed New York Police Department Officer Randolph Holder.

Holder was shot in the head Tuesday evening as he responded to calls of shots fired and a stolen bicycle at gunpoint. Holder and his partner chased the suspect, who opened fire.

Police say Howard was wounded in the leg and captured a few blocks away. He is in police custody Wednesday, and it isn't clear yet whether he has a lawyer to represent him.

Three others who had been questioned were released.

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10:30 a.m.

Residents in the neighborhood where a New York Police Department officer was fatally shot say they often feel unsafe there, particularly at night.

NYPD Officer Randolph Holder was killed late Tuesday after he chased a gunman along a pedestrian bridge in East Harlem.

Monica Amolina works at Public School 78. She said Wednesday that she "always walks fast" in the neighborhood because she's worried about gang activity.

Juliette Torres just moved to the neighborhood two weeks ago. She says she feels unsafe walking her dog at night because of the people hanging out on the street.

But resident Stephon Clarette calls it a "good neighborhood" and says "outsiders" are "trying to tear it up."

Parents walking their kids to school Wednesday had to make their way around police blockades.

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9:40 a.m.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has ordered flags flown at half-staff in honor of a police officer killed in the line of duty.

New York Police Department Officer Randolph Holder was killed late Tuesday after he chased a gunman along a pedestrian bridge in East Harlem. A man had reported that his bicycle had been stolen at gunpoint, and Holder chased down the suspect.

The 33-year-old had been an officer for about five years.

A suspect is in custody in Holder's slaying. His identity hasn't been released.

Three others were taken into custody for questioning.