The Latest: Life, no parole for man in officer’s death

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Latest on a man’s guilty plea in the fatal shooting of a police officer at a South Carolina mall (all times local):

12:05 p.m.

A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to life without parole in the killing of a police officer at a South Carolina mall as part of a plea deal that spares him a possible death sentence.

Jarvis Hall pleaded guilty Tuesday to murder in a Richland County courtroom packed with three dozen law enforcement officers.

Prosecutors say Hall shot Forest Acres officer Greg Alia in the back of the head as the two wrestled on the ground at the Richland Mall in September 2015. Alia and two other officers were investigating a complaint about a suspicious person.

Alia’s widow, Kassy, told Jarvis she forgives him but still mourns the loss of the most wonderful man she had ever met. The couple’s son turned 6 months old the day Alia died.

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9:20 a.m.

A man charged with killing a police officer at a South Carolina shopping mall nearly two years ago is expected to plead guilty.

A hearing has been scheduled for 36-year-old Jarvis Hall at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Richland County.

Hall is charged with murder in the September 2015 shooting of 32-year-old Forest Acres Officer Greg Alia. The charge carries 30 years to life in prison.

Authorities say two officers were checking on a complaint about a suspicious person at Richland Mall when Hall ran from them.

Investigators say Alia caught up with Hall and was shot as the two men struggled.

Authorities say Hall was armed with a .40-calibre handgun that had been stolen from neighbouring Lexington County less than a month before and also had a knife.