Police ID Suspect in Slaying of Rookie Pennsylvania Police Officer

Police ID Suspect in Slaying of Rookie Pennsylvania Police Officer
(ChiccoDodiFC/Shutterstock)
Bowen Xiao
11/19/2017
Updated:
11/20/2017

A suspect who allegedly shot and killed a New Kensington police officer in Pennsylvania is still on the loose on Sunday, Nov. 19. A manhunt is underway.

Police have now identified the shooter as 29-year-old Rahmael Sal Holt. He shot and killed 25-year-old Officer Brian Shaw on Nov. 17.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, a warrant has been issued for Holt’s arrest. Authorities urge anyone with information to call 911.

“Consider Holt armed and dangerous!” police said in a Nov. 18 tweet from the department.

A $43,500 reward has been offered for anyone who can give information leading to Holt’s arrest.

The location of the shooting took place in the 1200 block of Leishman Avenue in New Kensington around 8:15 p.m. Friday, according to CBS Pittsburgh.

The incident occurred during a police traffic stop. Someone inside the vehicle tried to escape from police, who pursued the man on foot. During the pursuit, shots were fired and officer Shaw, a patrolman, was shot in the chest.

According to Fox News, investigators are still determining the reason why Shaw initiated the traffic stop in the first place, but authorities declined to provide further details while the investigation is underway.

At the time of the shooting, Shaw was wearing a bullet-proof vest, but according to New Kensington Police Chief Jim Klein, Shaw later died from his injuries, CBS reported.

Later on Friday, police found a brown, older model Jeep Grand Cherokee that was needed as evidence in the investigation, according to Fox News.

Holt was charged by authorities with first-degree murder and murder of a police officer.

On Saturday, a woman believed to be Holt’s girlfriend was taken into custody at a Marathon gas station in Tarentum to be questioned by police on Saturday, multiple sources told CBS.

In a Facebook post, Pennsylvania’s police department offered their condolences to the fallen officer.

As news of the shooting spread, more in the community gave their support to responders and Officer Shaw’s family.

One tribute honored the fallen officer with a moment of silence at Saturday night’s National Hockey league (NHL) game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks.

NFL head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers also gave his condolences.

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From NTD.tv
Bowen Xiao was a New York-based reporter at The Epoch Times. He covers national security, human trafficking and U.S. politics.
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