A police officer in New York city has died after being shot in the head while chasing a robbery suspect in the city.

A police officer in New York city has died after being shot in the head while chasing a robbery suspect in the city, Ney York Times reported on Wednesday.

Randolph Holder was shot Tuesday night while responding to reports of a gunman in East Harlem, Police Commissioner William J. Bratton said.

Holder, aged 33 and his partner, who were part of a unit that works in the city's housing developments, pursued the "suspects" and exchanged gunfire with them, authorities said.

He died a few hours later -- making him the fourth officer killed in the line of duty in the city in 11 months, according to Bratton.