GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Joshua Funk, the man charged with killing Mount Holly Police Officer Tyler Herndon in December 2020, pleaded not guilty Monday to multiple counts of attempted murder on police officers.
Funk faced a judge for arraignment on the new charges Monday. He pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. Prosecutors announced last February that they will not seek the death penalty against Funk in the case. Mount Holly Police Chief Don Roper and several other officers were in court, along with Herndon's mother, as a show of support.
"The Herndon family has been really strong," Roper said. "They've been an inspiration to the Mount Holly Police Department, they've done more for us than we could ever do for them, to be honest with you, so any time we have an opportunity to show support for them, our folks are going to be there."
Herndon was shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a reported break-in at the Mount Holly Car Wash around 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 11. Multiple officers were called to the scene when they encountered an armed suspect. Multiple shots were fired between the suspect, identified as Funk, and responding police. Two other Mount Holly officers and one Gaston County officer were involved in the incident.
Funk's next court date has not been set yet. The District Attorney said a trial likely wouldn't happen until next year.
Contact Brandon Golder at bgoldner@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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