WLTX
October 3, 2015
Forest Acres Police Chief Gene Sealy says one of his officers was killed Wednesday morning during a struggle with a suspect at an area mall.
Sealy confirmed at a noon news conference that 32-year-old Greg Alia, a seven-year veteran of the police force, had died.
“Our hearts are broken,” Sealy said. “Forest Acres is a small community, small police department. We’re one big family.”
Sealy said Alia and other officers were responding to a call just before 8 a.m. of a suspicious person in the parking lot of the Richland Mall. When officers arrived, they found 34-year-old Jarvis Hall, who they reported ran away from them and near the mall.
Alia eventually confronted Hall near the Barnes and Noble bookstore, and the two began to struggle. The suspect then pulled out a gun, Sealy said, and shot Alia.