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‘Person Of Interest’ In Custody In Off-Duty Officer’s Slaying

A Pittsburgh Police hat.
Sarah Kovash
/
90.5 WESA

Police say a "person of interest" in the fatal shooting of an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer is in custody.

A Public Safety Department spokesman on Thursday night said the person is held on charges unrelated to the death of 36-year-old Officer Calvin Hall. The spokesman did not release the charge or the person's name and would only say the investigation is ongoing.

Hall died Wednesday at a hospital after he was shot three times in the back early Sunday during a street dispute as one or more parties were going on.

Hall's family released a statement Thursday, in part thanking the staff at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he was treated, as well as city officials such as Mayor Bill Peduto, Police Chief Scott Schubert and Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich.

“We want to thank everyone at the Northview Heights Public Safety Center. Officer Hall was so proud to be a part of a unit that was truly making a difference in the community. He spoke of his fellow officers and the substation often. We will not forget you. “To Officer Hall’s partner, Officer Reggie Eiland, there are no words that can adequately describe how grateful we are for the love, dedication and loyalty that you showed your fellow officer. You never left his side. You were there day and night, as were as so many other officers. We thank you, Officer Reggie, we thank you, Officer Joe Bucci, and we thank every other officer who showed their support, including the Chief of Police in Braddock, where Officer Hall worked before he came to Pittsburgh, who was there to support him and to offer his prayers. “There are so many others we want to thank, including those whose names we never learned. If we have forgotten anyone, please forgive us. But know that your kindness and devotion did not go unrecognized. We thank you all for working around the clock to support officer Hall and his family.”

Officials say there was a "strong possibility" that Hall, although off duty, "was in fact acting under the color of the law when he was fatally shot."

His funeral is scheduled for Tuesday.

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