Trooper involved in shooting of 12-year-old back on beat
Six months after the Christmas Eve shooting death of 12-year-old Michael Ellerbe in Uniontown, one of the two state police troopers involved has returned to active duty in Fayette County. Trooper Juan Curry returned to full duty as a patrol officer in early June.
Lt. Charles Depp, commander of the Uniontown station, said he received orders from state police headquarters in Harrisburg toward the beginning of the month to reactivate Curry.
He said Curry was anxious to return to work and his fellow troopers were happy to see him back on the job.
“He was chomping at the bit,” Depp said. “He’s a good guy on the road.”
Curry, an eight-year state police veteran, and trooper Samuel Nassan, who said he fired the shot that killed the boy as he fled from a stolen vehicle, were on administrative assignments.
Nassan, a rookie trooper, but a veteran military police officer, transferred from the Uniontown station soon after the incident. It wasn’t clear Tuesday if he has returned to full duty.
In the six months since the shooting, a coroner’s inquest jury ruled it a justifiable homicide and District Attorney Nancy Vernon determined the troopers acted appropriately under the law and decided not to file charges against them.
An internal state police investigation found the officers did not violate department regulations and took no disciplinary action against them.
Ellerbe’s family has filed has filed a civil rights suit against the state police in federal court in Pittsburgh.
The U.S. Attorney’s office and FBI have not yet concluded their investigation into the case.
According to state police, the incident started with Curry and Nassan chasing a stolen Ford Bronco through the East End around 2:30 p.m.
With Curry driving in pursuit, the Bronco wrecked in an alley. Ellerbe, the driver, got out and ran, ignoring orders from the officers to show his hands.
Curry said his gun accidentally discharged when he attempted to jump over a fence during the foot chase and fell to the ground.
Nassan, who had just caught up to Curry, said he heard the shot and saw Curry fall. Believing the boy had just shot Curry, Nassan said he shot him.