Rahmael Sal Holt, the suspected killer of a New Kensington, Pennsylvania police officer, was arrested after a three-day manhunt.
According to state police, Holt, 29, was taken into custody without incident in Hazelwood at 5:30 AM on Tuesday. Holt is accused of killing New Kensington Officer Brian Shaw during a traffic stop on the night of Friday, November 17. Authorities said the 25-year-old rookie officer was shot in the chest while chasing Holt on foot.
Reports indicate that the FBI, Marshals, Allegheny County Police and the Pittsburgh SWAT team surrounded a home in the 5000 block of Ladora Way on Tuesday morning. Authorities had been following Holt throughout the night as he moved from Duquesne to Homewood and eventually to the home in Hazelwood.
Three people were arrested for hindering Holt’s apprehension, including his mother.
via CBS Pittsburgh:
Police have 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. Holt got out of the vehicle and tried to run from police officers. Sometime during the foot chase, shots were fired and Officer Shaw was struck in the chest. Shaw died from his injuries.
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 Tavon Harper, who was driving the vehicle Officer Shaw attempted to stop. Harper’s arrest then led to police catching up with Holt’s cousin, Lisa Harrington, who was named a person of interest in the case.
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 previous criminal record with arrests on drug charges, aggravated and simple assault, and carrying a firearm without a license.
Four other people were arrested on outstanding warrants.
