Coroner sets inquest in death of man shot by trooper
A family photo of Anthony Gallo
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
In this 2017 photo, Shirley Gray talks about her grandson, Anthony Edward Gallo, who was fatally shot during a confrontation with state police in Canton Township. At rear are Robert Lee Herring, a cousin of Gallo, and Herring’s girlfriend, Lauren Olshock.
Washington County Coroner Tim Warco has scheduled an inquest for Monday in the death of a Canton Township man who was fatally shot by a state police trooper last Oct. 1.
Police responded that day to a report of a man threatening neighbors with a knife on Mark Avenue. Troopers found Anthony Edward Gallo, 34, in a mobile home on that street.
Gallo reportedly forced his way into the home and threatened to kill a person inside the residence. That person, who has not been identified to date by police, was able to escape.
After police entered the home, Gallo was ordered to come out and drop the knife. At least one witness reportedly heard Gallo threaten the troopers.
Gallo was told repeatedly to drop the knife but retreated farther into the mobile home, into a back bedroom, state police said at the time of the incident. He was again told to drop the knife, but instead advanced toward the troopers and was shot multiple times by the trooper closest to him, police said. Cpl. Adam Reed, the state police public information officer in Harrisburg, said Wednesday that the name of the trooper still has not been made public.
The state police major case team was activated at the time of the shooting. As part of protocol, the criminal investigation unit at Troop B’s Pittsburgh station handled the investigation.
The two troopers involved in the incident were restricted to administrative duties. It is not clear whether they have returned to patrol duties.
Gallo’s family said he had psychiatric problems, and they contend that state police did not need to use lethal force.
Warco said Wednesday that he had been waiting for state police to complete their investigation and submit the related documents to his office before scheduling the inquest. The coroner also said he had to wait for pathology and toxicology reports to be completed after the autopsy.