Erie, Pa (WJET/WFXP)– Tensions are escalating in Erie following the fatal shooting of Marchello Woodard, a Black man, by a state parole officer.

City leaders, including Mayor Joe Schember and city council members, have sent letters to Governor Josh Shapiro, PSP Captain Dale Brown, and Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz, demanding transparency in the investigation.

They want to know how Marchello Woodard was shot by a parole officer and why there’s not been communication around what happened that night.

The letters from city officials emphasize the community’s need for answers and the emotional toll the incident has taken on Woodard’s family and the broader community.

The Pennsylvania State Police have stated that the parole officer shot Woodard as he was dragging the officer with his car, but have not provided further details.

City officials have requested weekly updates on the investigation, but DA Elizabeth Hirz responded that such updates could compromise the investigation’s integrity.

The governor’s office has not commented on the letters, and the state police have stated they do not comment on ongoing investigations.

As the community awaits more information, the call for transparency and justice continues to grow louder in Erie.

The full letter can be read here:

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published.

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