Parole officer charged in the shooting of Marchello Woodard
Pennsylvania state parole officer faces criminal homicide charge among others, local officials release statements
On Friday Dec. 19 the Erie District Attorney's office formally charged Pennsylvania State Parole officer Kevin Seelinger with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person following the shooting of unarmed man Marchello Woodard on July 2. Seelinger is currently being held without bail.
This charge follows months of protests, letters to District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz and Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro, and resolutions passed by both City and County Council regarding the fatal shooting.
During the City Council meeting on July 17, grieving family and friends of Woodard spoke out during a council meeting for the first time. "I had to bury my son," Charles Woodard, the father of the victim, said. "Next time, you should respect that badge to honor, serve, and protect the community." After that first meeting, members of the Justice for Chello Coalition and other unaffiliated constituents regularly attended council meetings and spoke out.
Constituent Shateria Franklin, mother of Woodard's youngest son, said during the Dec. 3 City Council meeting: "We hold positions of power to make change, not to make a name for ourselves, not to build our pockets up, but to actually make change."
Woodard's death was a catalyst for moving funding and legislation forward to prevent a similar tragedy. During the Sept. 10 County Council meeting, Former Councilman Andre Horton advocated for providing juvenile and adult probation officers with cameras. "I would suggest that the County Executive work with this body. I would ask if he would inject [a section for body cameras] into the budget before he hands it to us, he has the ability to do that. If he puts something in for body cameras, rest assured I will fight for four or five votes to get my colleagues to approve it and I don't believe it would be a hard fight," Horton said. "The least we can do is put a camera on people that wear a gun." In the 2026 Erie County Budget, additional funding and equipment for body cameras was allotted.
Mayor-Elect Daria Devlin responded to the charge in a statement, "Today's decision by Erie County's District Attorney in the case of Marchello Woodard reflects the seriousness of this moment and the clear call from our community for accountability, transparency, and action. While no decision can ease the unbearable pain felt by Marchello's loved ones, I hope it finally brings Marchello's family some closure and the ability to begin to heal.
I thank the District Attorney for her work to finally arrive at this moment. While I do not have authority over this case or control over what happens next, I do have a responsibility to the citizens of Erie — to listen, to lead with compassion and trust, and to help bring our community together." The full statement can be read on Talk Erie.
