Erie, Pa (WJET/WFXP)– The release of court documents recounts the alleged events surrounding a recent fatal shooting involving a state parole officer.
They come on the day Woodard would have celebrated his 44th birthday. Pennsylvania State Police, along with the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, continues to investigate.
Nearly three weeks after erie resident Marchello Woodard was fatally shot by a state parole agent, we now have information from an eyewitness standpoint.
The affidavit comes from a search warrant filed by the Pennsylvania State Police that requests the medical records of Woodard and another man.
Although the documents do not directly say who that man is, it does state in part:
‘It was discovered that the involved parole agent, …, was also transported to UPMC Hamot Medical Center for assessment of, at this time, unknown minor injuries.’
According to the affidavit, a witness told investigators that Woodard’s demeanor changed, which led her to believe that Woodard would flee the parole agents.
The witness then said that Woodard tried to drive away in a car after the parole agent made physical contact with him and that the officer grasped onto the car in an attempt not to fall under it. That’s when the witness heard three distinct sounds that she believed to be gunshots.
Woodard was on parole after pleading guilty in 2017 to drug and firearm crimes.
In the meantime, the Justice for Chello Coalition gathered on Tuesday in front of the Erie County Courthouse to honor Woodard’s life on his 44th birthday.
“The reason we don’t have a big crowd is because of the diversion that they’ve created in the media by releasing his girlfriend’s statement, which was after Marchello was already dead,” said Tyrone Morrow, who attended the birthday celebration for Marchello Woodard.
They said that this is a way they can facilitate healing while remaining ever present and focused on the larger mission of justice.
“We’re not causing no trouble because Chello, if he was here, he was going to have fun, living a good life; he was a good person,” said Shannon Mathis who also attended the celebration.
Woodard would have been 44 today and off of parole. A Take Back the Site is being scheduled for July 30 at the corner of East 27th and German Streets at 5:15 pm for anyone who would like to attend.
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