Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck said finding New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw's suspected killer was the result of police, marshals and federal agents "relentlessly" pursuing the investigation.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, held just after suspect Rahmael Sal Holt, 29, was arraigned on murder charges, Peck said investigators still are looking into charges against Holt's family members, including his mother, Sherry Holt, and other associates for allegedly hindering the investigation.

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Multiple members of Holt's family and others reportedly are facing charges, with some arrested along with Holt at his mother's home in Pittsburgh's Hazelwood neighborhood early Tuesday morning. Westmoreland County Detective Ray Dupilka said "at least" eight people could be facing charges in connection with Holt's movements over the last few days.

The latest charged are Lakita Caine, 40, and Taylor Mitchell, 19, both of Victoria Avenue, New Kensington. They are charged with hindering apprehension because, police say, they lied about having seen Holt the night of the murder and the whereabouts of the gun used to kill Shaw.

According to affidavits filed against the women, police say Holt ran to their house almost immediately after the shooting and hid the murder weapon there. Police say Holt got a change of clothes at the house and left the gun there before he fled.

Both women told police they hadn't seen Holt for some time but later changed their stories.

The gun was removed from the residence the next day by another woman who, so far, hasn't been charged. Police still are searching for the gun.

District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. set bond at $50,000 each for Caine and Mitchell, and they were taken to the county jail to await a preliminary hearing.

Pittsburgh's SWAT officers entered the Hazelwood house Tuesday, and a team was searching for the pistol that killed Shaw and other evidence.

Holt's last known address was along Vine Street in Harrison's Natrona neighborhood. He was last seen before his arrest along Leishman Avenue in New Kensington. He jumped from a moving car that Shaw, 25, of Lower Burrell was trying to pull over for going through a stop sign, Peck said.

Police say Holt is seen on security camera footage fleeing from Shaw, then turning and shooting at the officer.

Holt fired at least six shots at Shaw, police said. Several hit him.

Peck said the officer fell, stood up and fell again.

Holt was last seen running away in an alley.

"We know he eventually went to Pittsburgh, but I can't provide you with any certainty what his route was," Peck said at the news conference held in New Kensington's municipal building. "He was at multiple locations over the last couple of days."

Dupilka said that within 24 hours of the shooting, Holt was bouncing around from house to house, trying to elude police. Dupilka was grateful for the cooperation of multiple police agencies.

"Everyone (was) working together towards a successful apprehension," he said.

Shaw's identification of the license plate to Westmoreland 911 dispatchers led to police later finding the Jeep abandoned and the first clues about who was involved, Peck said. On Sunday, police arrested Tavon Harper, 27, of New Kensington for allegedly driving the SUV away after Holt is accused of jumping out with a gun, according to court papers. Harper identified Holt as his passenger, police said.

Since Friday, officers, deputy U.S. marshals, the FBI and other federal agents, state police and state drug agents worked around the clock to track the suspect, officials said. A marshal's team went to more than 20 locations starting late Friday to run down tips about the shooter, said Frazer police Chief Terry Kuhns, who assisted the task force.

At the press conference, New Kensington police Chief Jim Klein said it's a "small sense of relief" that Holt was in custody. "We are very thankful that no one else was injured," said Klein, who wore a angel pin on a pocket and dignified grief on his face.

A black band with the number 29 — Shaw's badge number — was affixed to Klein's gold badge.

Klein said New Kensington officers "can now grieve." They will be back to regular patrols and investigations by the end of the week. He thanked New Kensington citizens and promised that New Kensington officers "will be dedicated to providing the best possible protection and service."

"There is no better example than that provided by Officer Brian Shaw, who gave his life protecting the public," Klein said.

Klein left the news conference to talk with Shaw's family.

Peck said "multiple" informants provided police with leads to Holt's whereabouts during the investigation.

He couldn't say if anyone will get the reward or part of the reward for submitting good information.

After his arrest, Holt was driven from Pittsburgh to his arraignment in New Kensington. He arrived amid a procession of police cars with lights flashing Tuesday morning. Several bystanders took photographs with their cellphones while officers escorted Holt from a police car — handcuffed in Shaw's cuffs — into his arraignment. One motorist shouted "good job" to the officers who had gathered in the street awaiting Holt's arrival.

Armed officers stood in the street, and about a dozen officers, mostly Allegheny County sheriff's deputies, were present for his arraignment.

Most were hugged and thanked by Klein and other police.

The slender, shackled and handcuffed Holt stood mute throughout most of his 8-minute arraignment.

He wore a black hoodie and black jeans. There was no discernible emotion on his face.

In a hoarse voice, Holt told Pallone that he would get a private attorney. Pallone asked Holt to complete a form to be represented by a public defender anyway so that Holt will have legal representation even if his family doesn't hire a lawyer.

In addition to first-degree murder, Holt is charged with murder of a police officer, illegal gun possession and a related gun charge.

Bond was automatically denied.

Holt was taken to the Westmoreland County Prison to await a preliminary hearing.

Outside the district judge's office, New Kensington resident Mark Sibley watched Holt come and go and asked a question.

"Why? If he had time to run, he had time to throw away a gun and anything else. He had time to think about his choices. An officer was killed? Why?"

Chuck Biedka and Renatta Signorini are Tribune-Review staff writers. Reach Biedka at 724-226-4711, cbiedka@tribweb.com or via Twitter @ChuckBiedka. Reach Signorini at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@tribweb.com or via Twitter @ByRenatta.

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