Jan 1, 2003 By Jennifer Harr 5 min read

Michael Ellerbe was remembered Tuesday as a child with an infectious grin and an enthusiasm for life. The 12-year-old, fatally shot Christmas Eve during a state police chase, was eulogized by Tina Whitehead, the director of the after-school program at Calvary United Methodist Church, where services were held for Ellerbe.

Whitehead shared memories of Ellerbe, who she said she got to know better over the last year when he moved near her home in Uniontown.

She described Ellerbe as quiet but polite during his many visits to her house, and said she remembers his “every ready grin” with fondness.

“I teased him that (his grin) added to the mystery of who he was,” said Whitehead.

When Ellerbe was bored over the summer, Whitehead said it was her grinning neighbor who squelched that boredom by mowing her lawn.

“And when the snow came last month, Michael was the first to the door offering to shovel our walk,” she said.

Whitehead said she last saw Ellerbe, an on-again, off-again visitor to the after-school program, on Dec. 18, when her doorbell rang at 7:20 a.m.

“My first thought, was ‘I bet it’s Michael,'” said Whitehead.

She was right. The youngster, she said, wanted to know if she could take him to his alternative school in Perryopolis because he missed the bus that morning.

On the way there, Whitehead said they talked, and he grinned at her when she told him that her daughter had a good time playing with him two days before. When they got to the school, she said, Ellerbe told her how much he liked his new school.

“I thank God for the little while he gave me. Michael’s life touched mine,” said Whitehead.

Before the service started, family members came into the church to view Ellerbe in his coffin, some pausing to cry at the sight of the boy with his hands folded atop his brown and beige sweater. Inside the coffin were two pictures, a hat and a stuffed animal.

During the service, Ellerbe’s sister, LaKettle, and cousin, Jessica Fortune, conveyed their recollections to mourners.

LaKettle Ellerbe, who lives in North Carolina, told the packed church that she remembered fondly holding her brother for the first time and giving him a bottle as a baby.

“I will always love you very much. The times I had with you will never be forgotten,” said Ellerbe’s sister, choking back tears.

LaKettle Ellerbe also read the tribute from Fortune, who stood by her side crying. Fortune’s written tribute recalled playing video games with Ellerbe and asked unanswerable questions.

“This family is not the same without you. Why did you have to leave? We was supposed to grow old together,” Fortune wrote.

Calvary United Methodist Church minister, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Whitehead, also read letters and cards received in sympathy for the family.

Michael Hickenbottom, Ellerbe’s father, broke down sobbing as Whitehead read a letter from Fayette County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) President Clinton Anderson.

The letter offered support from the entire black community and offered wishes that “memories of Michael grow sweeter with every passing day.”

The letter also asked for “divine guidance” in getting through Ellerbe’s death.

The Rev. Louis Ridgley, another NAACP member, also spoke in an effort to offer comfort to Ellerbe’s family and friends.

“No one can completely understand what you’re going through as a family,” said Ridgley. “But Michael is with God, so no one can do anything further.”

Ridgley also called for accountability for those involved in Ellerbe’s death.

The shooting occurred during a chase in which police alleged Ellerbe stole a car and fled from them. When Ellerbe allegedly wrecked the car, he got out and ran, with state police troopers Juan Curry and Samuel Nassan giving chase.

During the course of that chase, Ellerbe was shot in the back. The bullet pierced his heart and he died at Uniontown Hospital. For their part, state police have remained silent about who fired the shot that hit Ellerbe.

Joel Sansone, the attorney for the Ellerbe family, said at a press conference last week that reliable, unnamed sources said that Curry may have slipped on ice and accidentally discharged his weapon, prompting Nassan to shoot.

After the funeral, Sansone expressed thanks on behalf of the Ellerbe family for the “overwhelming and outstanding” support from the community. He also said the family will continue to seek justice in Ellerbe’s name.

Police are conducting an investigation into the shooting, and the two troopers involved have been assigned to administrative duty, a typical move in such cases.

On Monday, Fayette County District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon announced that she has sought a separate federal probe of the shooting.

Mary Beth Buchanan, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, will help review evidence and make any decisions involving possible prosecution, said Vernon. Additionally, the FBI has opened a full-blown probe into the shooting.

Ellerbe’s family welcomed that move, said Sansone earlier this week.

Relative Charlotte Peterson said after the funeral that the shooting has devastated her.

“I hope my nephew will get some kind of justice,” she said.