New Kensington Police Shooting Suspect Arrested In Hazelwood
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NEW KENSINGTON (KDKA) – The man suspected in the fatal shooting of a New Kensington police officer is in custody.
According to police, 29-year-old Rahmael Sal Holt was arrested without incident around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday in Hazelwood. Holt is accused of killing 25-year-old Officer Brian Shaw on Friday.
The FBI, U.S. Marshals, Allegheny County Police and the Pittsburgh SWAT team surrounded a home in the 5000 block of Ladora Way. Holt came out of the home and surrendered peacefully.
He was transported to New Kensington, where he was led into the magistrate's office around 9 a.m. The handcuffs used on Holt belonged to Officer Shaw.
Holt stated he will be hiring a private defense attorney.
Bail has since been denied and he was transported to the Westmoreland County Prison.
Officials held a press conference Tuesday morning to update the status of the investigation.
New Kensington Police Chief James Klein said Holt's arrest gives his department and the city a small sense of relief.
"We are very, very thankful he was taken into custody and nobody else was injured," Chief Klein said. "At this point, now we will be able to try and start to grieve with the Shaw family."
Klein also expressed his gratitude to the citizens of New Kensington.
"Thank you to the citizens of New Kensington… our officers are dedicated to providing the best possible service to protect you and keep you safe. There is no better example than Officer Brian Shaw, who gave his life serving this community. I promise you that our officers will continue to serve with the same honor that Brian did, the same dedication and professional service that you guys expect and you guys will receive," Chief Klein said.
Ross Guidotti's Report:
Police had been following Holt throughout the night as he moved from Duquesne to Homewood and eventually to the home in Hazelwood.
Holt's mother, Sherry, and two others were arrested for hindering apprehension.
Police say Sherry gave them conflicting stories about whether she'd seen Holt after the shooting.
Police say it turns out she had seen Holt Friday night, right after the shooting.
The other two charged with hindering apprehension were Holt's cousin, Marcel Mason, and Mason's girlfriend, Aysa Benson.
Police say that both denied seeing Holt after the shooting. However, Benson later admitted Holt came to her home in Duquesne on Saturday to get a change of clothes and a ride to a bus stop in Pittsburgh.
Four other people were arrested on outstanding warrants.
Meanwhile, two more people, Lakita Caine and Taylor Mitchell, have been charged with hindering Holt's apprehension in Westmoreland County.
According to police, Caine and Mitchell were in a bedroom of a home along Victoria Avenue in New Kensington on Friday, when they heard gunshots. Moments later, Holt entered the house. Caine said Holt indicated he had to leave the area.
Meghan Schiller's Report:
Lisa Harrington, Holt's cousin, went to the Victoria Avenue home on Saturday. Caine allegedly told her the gun used in the officer's shooting was in the home. Then, Harrington went to the basement and removed a brown paper bag.
Harrington was later named a person of interest in the case. Police are still searching for the gun.
Police had been searching for Holt since the shooting happened around 8:15 p.m. Friday after police tried to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 1200 block of Leishman Avenue in New Kensington.
Holt got out of the vehicle and tried to run from police officers. Sometime during the foot chase, at least six shots were fired and Officer Shaw was struck multiple times. Shaw died from his injuries.
According to Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck, there is no indication at this time that Officer Shaw's vest failed.
Police believe Officer Shaw attempted to pull the vehicle over for failing to completely stop at a stop sign.
Police identified Holt as the suspect early Sunday morning.
According to sources, the arrest of Holt's girlfriend at a Marathon gas station on Saturday was the break in the case. That led to the arrest of Tavon Harper, who was driving the vehicle Officer Shaw attempted to stop. Harper's arrest then led to police catching up with Harrington.
Andy Sheehan's Report:
The three were only able to provide bits of information to police about Holt's whereabouts. Police pieced the information together and were able to apprehend Holt.
Holt has a lengthy criminal record with previous arrests on drug charges, aggravated and simple assault, and carrying a firearm without a license.
