Marchello Woodard died from gunshots fired by his parole agent during a routine check, but a jury decided Wednesday that Kevin Seelinger was not guilty of any crime in the case. The panel spent a long stretch Tuesday and more time Wednesday morning before they settled on not guilty across the board.
It happened July 2, 2025, in the 400 block of East 27th Street in Erie. Seelinger testified he was halfway into Woodard’s car through the driver’s window when the vehicle took off. He hung on, said he was scared of serious injury or death, and fired.

The prosecution pushed the idea that Seelinger had other choices. They argued he could have released his grip on the car instead of using his gun. The defense said the danger was real and the shots were a lawful answer to it.
Deliberations kicked off near 1 p.m. Tuesday. Roughly five and a half hours later the jurors told Judge John Trucilla they could not agree. He ordered them back the next morning. They asked for plain explanations of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and the justification defense before reaching their decision.
After the verdict Erie Mayor Daria Devlin offered sympathy to Woodard’s relatives. She said the result might bring fresh hurt and frustration. She pointed out that questions about deadly force, accountability and public trust in law enforcement do not disappear just because a criminal trial ends.
Devlin urged everyone to share their feelings without trouble. She added that the city would keep reviewing safety policies and push forward with efforts like the Mayor’s Council on Community Safety and Trust to strengthen connections in the community.
The incident unfolded in Erie, a city in northwestern Pennsylvania along Lake Erie, specifically on East 27th Street inside Erie County. The jury’s not-guilty finding closed the criminal chapter.




