Officer Brian Shaw's brother speaks out about his tragic death

The brother of slain New Kensington Police Officer Brian Shaw explained the depth of loss to the family during a recent interview with a local television station.

“His smile was addictive. If he was smiling, you were smiling, too,” said Steffan Shaw, Brian's brother and a Penn Hills police officer, to WTAE .

Shaw, 25, who had not yet finished his first year as a full-time police officer in the city, was shot to death during a during a traffic stop last month in the 1200 block of Leishman Avenue.

Suspect Rahmael Sal Holt is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail.

In the television interview, Steffan Shaw commented that Holt could have kept running. “He could have thrown the gun, got rid of it and still kept running. But he decided to turn around and make the mistake that, you know, cost my brother his life.

“He took my brother's life for three more days of freedom,” Shaw told WTAE.

Steffan Shaw went on to say that Holt will be able to tell his family he loves them and “see them through glass or a phone call, but my brother is never going to be able to say that again. He took that from me and my family.”

Steffan Shaw also added how painful it was to take on the responsibility of telling his parents about his brother's death.

“Hands down one of the most difficult situations I have ever been approached with in my life,” he said.

Other members of the Shaw family have not spoken publicly about the loss, although the public was very much a part of the mourning as they lined streets in Lower Burrell and New Kensington to honor the fallen officer's funeral procession.

They continue to buy T-shirts, which have been re-ordered several times, in his honor benefiting a memorial fund.

Mary Ann Thomas is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4691, mthomas@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MaThomas_Trib.