October 6, 2026 QUEENS, NY A dark chapter in New York City history is resurfacing as David McClary, convicted in the infamous 1988 assassination of 22-year-old rookie NYPD Officer Edward Byrne, makes another bid for freedom.

With a crucial parole hearing scheduled for the week of Oct. 19, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has issued an urgent plea to the state parole board: keep this cold-blooded assassin locked up for life.

The Execution That Shocked a Nation

On the night of Feb. 26, 1988, Officer Edward Byrne sat alone in his marked patrol car outside a home in South Jamaica, Queens. He was guarding a key witness scheduled to testify against powerful local drug dealers during the peak of the city’s crack epidemic.

What happened next was a calculated, ruthless hit ordered by drug kingpin Howard "Pappy" Mason and orchestrated by Phillip Copeland:

1. The Distraction: Co-defendant Todd Scott approached the passenger window of Officer Byrne’s patrol car to draw his attention.

2. The Execution: David McClary advanced from the driver’s side and fired five shots at point-blank range directly into the officer's head.

3. The Aftermath: Officer Byrne was killed instantly inside his patrol vehicle.

In June 1989, a jury convicted McClary of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon, sentencing him to 25 years to life. Accomplices Todd Scott, Scott Cobb, and Copeland were also convicted for their roles in the conspiracy. Despite widespread outrage, the state parole board granted release to Scott Cobb in 2023.

A Belated Confession and Ongoing Oppositions

For decades, McClary denied pulling the trigger. That changed during a July 2025 parole hearing when he finally admitted to firing the fatal shots. The board denied his release at that time, setting up the upcoming October review.

In a formal letter sent to the parole board on Sept. 28, DA Katz reaffirmed her uncompromising stance against McClary’s release:

"Nearly six years have passed since I wrote my initial letter in opposition to David McClary's release and my position has not wavered," Katz stated. "This execution was nothing short of an act of domestic terrorism designed to challenge the long established and universally accepted laws of civilized society."

The Legacy of Officer Edward Byrne

The murder of Officer Byrne served as a historic turning point for law enforcement and New York City as a whole, signaling a desperate turning of the tide against violent drug cartels.

The sacrifice resonated all the way to the White House. During his 1988 presidential campaign, George H.W. Bush carried Officer Byrne’s police shield with him on the trail. After taking office, President Bush kept the shield prominently displayed on his desk in the Oval Office as a permanent symbol against lawlessness.

To this day, city leaders and members of the 103rd Precinct gather at the exact intersection in South Jamaica at midnight every Feb. 26 to honor the fallen officer's memory.

Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry praised the District Attorney's intervention and called on the public to submit petitions against McClary's release via the PBA website, warning that releasing Byrne's killer risks undermining the progress made against violent crime.

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