UNIONTOWN, Pa. -- About 130 family members and friends bid a tearful farewell during funeral services Tuesday for Michael Ellerbe, the 12-year-old who was shot and killed while running from police last week.
District Attorney Nancy Vernon said Monday that she has asked the U.S. Attorney's office and FBI to investigate the shooting of the Fayette County boy.
U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said her office has begun a civil rights investigation of the Dec. 24 death of Michael Ellerbe (pictured, left), who allegedly stole a vehicle and was shot in the back while running from state police in Uniontown.
In a statement, Vernon said a combination of the federal probes, a coroner's inquest and a police investigation would "ensure the public of a full, fair and multi-agency review."
But the county's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said any group investigating the death of Ellerbe, a black child, must be representated by at least three blacks.
"We insist upon and demand cooperation and a complete investigation at all levels of local, county, state and federal law enforcement ... to insure that there is not just a token representation, but a fair representation," said a statement from chapter president Clinton Anderson.
State police forwarded the NAACP's demands to Vernon, who did not comment.
Troopers Juan Curry and Samuel Nassan chased Ellerbe on foot after the stolen vehicle crashed, police said. A coroner determined that Ellerbe was struck by a bullet that entered his heart from behind and exited through his chest.
State police, saying they don't want to jeopardize their criminal investigation, have not commented on the case, other than to offer condolences to Ellerbe's family.
Attorney Joel Sansone, who is representing Ellerbe's family, said the case includes "issues that impact the African-American community," but he stressed that it wasn't solely about race.
"It's not first about a black boy, but first, why an unarmed child was shot," Sansone said. "No matter (what race) was involved on either end, the first question is not who, but why?"
Sansone, citing "reliable" sources, has publicly suggested that Nassan, a white man, shot Ellerbe after Curry, a black man, fell during the chase and accidentally fired his gun. The troopers have been placed on administrative leave.
Ellerbe's funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Calvary United Methodist Church in Uniontown. Burial will follow at Sylvan Heights Cemetery.
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published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
