Slippery Rock University graduate Brian Shaw, a kicker for two state championship football teams in college, was shot and killed Friday night while on duty as a police officer in New Kensington.

Shaw, 25, graduated from SRU in 2013 and played for its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title teams in 2011 and 2013. He received a degree in criminal justice.

Shaw graduated from the Allegheny County Police Training Academy in 2014 and joined the New Kensington police force in June. He was shot twice by a suspect fleeing a vehicle after a routine traffic stop on Leishman Avenue and died later that night at Allegheny Valley Hospital.

Shaw became the second member of the 2011 SRU championship team to be murdered. Middle linebacker Zach Sheridan was shot and killed in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh in August 2013.

“The lowest, worst part of being a coach is having to attend the funeral service of one of your players,” retired SRU football coach George Mihalik said. “There's no good reason why something like this should happen.

“I got the text around midnight. I thought ... it can't be. Not Brian. This hits so close to home. He was one of the people out there protecting us.

“There's so much disrespect out there for law enforcement officers today. It's senseless. When any of us get in trouble, they're the first people we call,” Mihalik added.

A moment of silence was observed in honor of Shaw at Saturday's SRU home basketball games and Saturday night's Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game.

“We're not a football team. We're a family and we mourn the loss of one of our family members,” SRU head football coach Shawn Lutz said. “The New Kensington police force lost a member of their family and we mourn right along with them.”

“Brian always wanted to be a police officer. That's what he studied for here. He talked about that a lot.”

Former SRU punter James McCombie roomed with Shaw for three years at The Rock.

“He was his own biggest critic,” McCombie said. “I've never known anybody with a bigger heart. He knew what he stood for and he died doing what he loved to do.

“He had a passion for police work and helping people.”

Mihalik recalled a story about Shaw stopping his patrol car to interact with a little boy holding a set of toy handcuffs.

“Brian took the time to talk with the boy, showed him his real handcuffs and let him hold them,” Mihalik said. “He always had time for people.”

Lutz echoed those sentiments, pointing out that Shaw was always the first Rock player to volunteer for work at youth football camps.

“He was always about giving back — and he loved working with kids,” Lutz said.

Shaw's older brother, Steffan, is a police officer in Penn Hills.

“He was Brian's role model,” McCombie said. “Brian envied what he did. He wanted to be like his brother. That's why he wanted to become a police officer, too.

“The last time I saw him was when we were moving out of our apartment in Slippery Rock. Now I'll never get to see my buddy again. It hurts.”

A 2010 Burrell High School graduate, Shaw was a three-time track MVP in high school. He also lettered in soccer and football. He qualified for the state track meet in the 200 meters his senior year.

“This guy wasn't just a kicker. He was a tremendous athlete,” Lutz said. “Whenever he kicked off, he wanted to be the guy to make the tackle. He could have been a linebacker.”

Mihalik recalled making a home visit to Shaw's family during the football recruiting process. He said Shaw was “a hunter and a fisherman, so we hit it off fine.”

The former coach's voice broke as he spoke.

“You question what's going on in our society today,” Mihalik said. “You hear about these tragedies all over the country. You sympathize with families, but they're distant.

“It happens to one of your own ... It hits home.”

Visitation for Shaw is from 1 to 4 p.m., 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Rusiewicz Funeral Home in Lower Burrell, his hometown. Funeral service is at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Mount St. Peter Church in New Kensington.

Pennsylvania state police issued an arrest warrant for 29-year-old Rahamael Sal Holt in connection with the shooting. He was still on the run as of press time.

A $43,500 reward was offered for any information leading to his arrest. Police said he was considered armed and dangerous.