Driver linked to slaying of police officer testifies at Holt hearing
The 27-year-old driver who police say was behind the wheel in November when his passenger jumped from the Jeep and gunned down a New Kensington police officer testified against the accused shooter during a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Tavon Harper of New Kensington testified against Rahmael Sal Holt, 29, of the Natrona Heights area, during an hourlong hearing in front of District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.
Holt is accused of shooting 25year-old Officer Brian Shaw on Nov. 17 after the officer tried to pull Harper’s vehicle over about 8 p.m. in the 1200 block of Leishman Avenue. Holt is charged with murder of a law enforcement officer of the first degree and firearms violations, all of which District Judge Pallone held for court.
Harper took the stand in a blue jail jumpsuit; he faces drug and evading charges in connection to the incident. In a full courtroom packed with more than a dozen New Kensington police officers, some in uniform, as well as members of the media and family members of both Holt and Officer Shaw, Harper waived his right to a preliminary hearing and recounted what happened on the day of the shooting.
Harper testified that he met with Holt mid-morning on Nov. 17 and sold him about $300 worth of crack cocaine. Harper said Holt, whom he knew from school, asked him to buy marijuana for him while he was in Pittsburgh later that day, and Harper did so.
Harper testified that he drove back to New Kensington in the evening to exchange the weed with Holt, then gave the man a ride to a gas station. Harper then agreed to buy a TV from Holt for $100, he said, and the pair were on their way to get the TV when Officer Shaw flipped
on his lights behind them.
Authorities have said they believe Officer Shaw was attempting to pull over the Jeep for failing to stop completely at a stop sign; Harper on Wednesday testified that he did stop.
Harper said he planned to pull over when he saw the police lights, but Holt pulled a black gun with an extra-long clip out of his jacket and asked Harper if he could hide thegun in Harper’s vehicle.
Harper refused because he was on parole, he said. Holt then told him to “drive off,” and he did, Harper testified. He said as the Jeep was rolling, Holt got out and ran, crossing in front of the vehicle.
“He told me, ‘Yo, you don’t know me,’ and then he jumpedout,” Harper testified.
He said he looked back once and saw Officer Shaw chasing after Holt, and then drove straight home.
He did not hear any gunshots or see Holt shoot Officer Shaw, Harper testified on cross examination.
Westmoreland County Detective Ray Duplika testified that surveillance video from a nearby home shows a black man running into a parking lot next to City Outreach Church, then turning, firing at and mortally wounding Officer Shaw.
On cross-examination, Detective Duplika said he could not identify the shooter as Holtbased on the video alone. Investigators have not recovered the gun used in the shooting, he testified.
Some New Kensington police officers sat with their heads in their hands as the detective read from an autopsy report that listed Officer Shaw’s cause and manner of death as multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and shoulder.
Holt’s attorney, Justin Ketchel, said Harper’s account is the only information linking his client to the crime and said he does not believe it is a true account.
“He is a convicted felon and he’s obviously just a liar,” Mr. Ketchel said after the hearing. He said Holt did not shoot Officer Shaw, but declined to discuss an alibi for his client.
Harper admitted that he lied to police multiple times during the investigation into Officer Shaw’s death, at first telling them his wife was driving the car and he was at home, then naming a fictional man named, “Reese” as his passenger that night.
Harper identified Holt as the shooter only after he was arrested on drug charges and was jailed in the Westmoreland County Prison. He said Wednesday that he heard the correctional officers calling him a “cop killer,” and he wanted to clear his name. He also said he was worried Holt would come after him or his family if he cooperated with police.
“I thought he’d know I talked if he saw his face all over the news for a cop murder,” he testified.
Holt sat quietly through the hearing and did not speak to reporters when he left. He is being held without bail in the Westmoreland County Prison.
Shelly Bradbury: 412-2631999, sbradbury@post-gazette.com.