South Carolina Police Officer Greg Alia, 32, was murdered early Wednesday morning while responding to a report of a suspicious person at the Richland Mall in Forest Acres.
Alia was shot after a physical confrontation ensued between him and the suspect. Alia later died from his wounds in the hospital, according to Fox News. Forest Acres police Chief Gene Sealy said that the police do have a suspect in custody, but a name has not officially been released yet. Sealy said the suspect was armed with a knife and a handgun. (RELATED: Selfless Police Officer Rents Hotel Room For Homeless Family)
Alia was a seven year veteran of the police force and had just recently had a baby.
A GoFundMe page had raised over $34,000 by Wednesday afternoon. According to Alia’s neighbors, he was a class act and stand up gentleman. Joan Woodward, 81, was a neighbor of Alia when he was a child and recalled the memories of Alia sitting and spending time with her after Woodward’s husband passed away and added that, “God always takes the angels.” (RELATED: Off-Duty DC Police Officer Shot Outside Detroit Strip Club)
Alia’s recently widowed wife, Kassy, has yet to make a public statement regarding the death of her husband.