UPDATED: 5:23 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017
An intense search continued Saturday for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a young New Kensington police officer.
The shooting happened shortly after 8 p.m. Friday in New Kensington, about 18 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Authorities said Officer Brian Shaw, 25, was shot after attempting to make a traffic stop, which led to a foot pursuit when shots were fired.
New Kensington Police Chief James Klein said Shaw was wearing his vest when he was struck in the chest.
"He was vibrant. He brought [happiness] and humor into their lives," Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Stephen Limani said of Shaw's place in his colleagues lives. "He was obviously a very special person. A lot of heavy hearts inside those four walls."
Shaw was a 2014 graduate of the Allegheny County Police Training Academy and served as a part-time officer in three other towns before joining the New Kensington police force full-time in June. He was taken to a hospital after the shooting but was pronounced dead there a short time later, police said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshal Service and FBI, which Limani said is contributing ancillary support, have offered a combined $40,000 for information leading to the identity and arrest of the person or persons responsible.
New Kensington Officer Shaw Reward Update- The U.S. Marshall Service offered $5,000 and the ATF increased their original reward from $5,000 now to $10,000. The reward money leading to an arrest is now totaled at $40,000.
— Troopers Steve Limani & Cliff Greenfield (@PSPTroopAPIO) November 18, 2017
Officers from neighboring towns were still scouring the area for the suspect throughout the day Saturday. SWAT teams and police dogs assisted. They reported recovering a brown, older model Jeep Grand Cherokee wanted in connection with the shooting, but no descriptions of the suspect have been released. Klein said detectives are still investigating the vehicle's involvement and who might have been inside.
"We're doing everything we can to follow these leads," Limani said.
To the citizens of New Kensington, Klein said local police services "have not stopped and will not stop." He and Limani thanked the dozens of regional law enforcement agencies who have contributed time and resources, as well as an overwhelming outpouring of support from the community.
Limani said New Kensington police are "doing exactly what they're trained to do."
"There's a task-at-hand right now, and that's finding who committed this crime against their fellow officer," he said.
When that task is over, Shaw's colleagues will be able to assess their own emotions, he said.
"We're all going to feel some pain about losing this young man," Limani said.
Rusiewicz Funeral Home in Lower Burrell will host visitation Monday and Tuesday from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Christian funeral mass will be 10 .m. Wednesday at Mount St. Peter in New Kensington.
Anyone wishing to help is encouraged to bring food donations to 785 4th Avenue, New Kensington Fire Dept #1 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
