2 years after he was killed, memorial to be unveiled in fallen officer’s honor

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. — It’s been nearly two years since a Mount Holly police officer was killed while responding to a break-in call. Now, the community is set to unveil a memorial in his honor.

Officer Tyler Herndon was killed two days before his 26th birthday -- on Dec. 11, 2020.

Sunday marks two years since that shooting, and in recognition, city officials will unveil statues in his honor. Herndon’s father told Channel 9′s Ken Lemon one of those statues embodies one of his son’s best characteristics.

Mark Herndon said he still feels the pain of losing his son after he was shot and killed by a burglary suspect.

PREVIOUS: Man accused in fatal 2020 shooting of Mount Holly police officer facing new charges

“It’s still hard. I can’t help it. He’s my son,” he said.

Herndon said seeing his son being honored by the entire community will make this year a little easier. On Sunday afternoon, the city will unveil statues at the officer memorial bearing Tyler’s name.

Mark Herndon has seen renderings of what they’ll look like. Neither statue is a replica of Tyler Herndon, but the officer and child illustrated in one of them captured the essence of Tyler’s heart.

Mark Herndon Mark Herndon said he still feels the pain of losing his son, Tyler Herndon, after he was shot and killed by a burglary suspect.

“Seeing that police officer with his arm around a kid. That was Tyler,” Mark Herndon said.

Mark said Tyler Herndon taught youth soccer and that he loved children.

“He loved kids. He loved spending time with kids,” Mark Herndon said.

Most people going to city hall and the police department will see the other statue first: A depiction of an officer kneeing at the eternal flame with a dog at his side.

Both are life-sized images in exceptional detail for a for an exceptional officer.

“I’m grateful for what Mount Holly did, for the ceremony,” Mark Herndon said.

Unveiling the statues on a somber day will deepen the loss for Tyler’s family, but also remind Mark Herndon of the son he treasured.

“I think about him all the time,” he said.

He said he will go to church Sunday morning before the 2 p.m. ceremony to celebrate his son’s legacy there.

Then on his birthday, the family will have a birthday cake for Tyler, who loved cakes. His friends ordered a birthday cake early two years ago, but Tyler never got to see it.

(WATCH PREVIOUS BELOW: Man pleads guilty in 2020 shooting of Mount Holly police officer)