09 November 2022- Convicted law enforcement killer Rahmael Sal Holt had his notice of execution signed by Acting Secretary of Corrections Laurel Harry. Holt was convicted of killing New Kensington, Pennsylvania officer Brian Shaw in 2017. His trial finished in 2019, finding him guilty of the killing of Officer Shaw, who was 25 years old at the time of his murder. Last year the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the death sentence against Holt.
Pennsylvania still has legal executions being prosecuted but none have been carried out since 1999. Prior to his end of term, Governor Tom Wolf had signed a moratorium on executions but what happens with Holt’s execution remains to be seen. Full release from the DoC is below.
Department of Corrections Acting Secretary Laurel Harry signed a Notice of Execution setting April 3, 2023, for the execution of Rahmael Sal Holt, who was sentenced to death in Westmoreland County.
The law provides that when the governor does not sign a warrant of execution within the specified time period, the secretary of corrections has 30 days within which to issue a notice of execution.
