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Wednesday, December 25, 2002

By Michael A. Fuoco, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

A juvenile suspected of operating a stolen vehicle died yesterday after he was wounded during a foot chase by state police in Uniontown.

The shooting occurred about 2:30 p.m. after troopers in patrol cars pursued a vehicle reported stolen earlier in the day from Uniontown. The driver of the car, identified as Michael Ellerbe, 12, wrecked it in the city and fled on foot. The troopers then chased him on foot, state police reported.

Police said shots were fired during the chase and Ellerbe was wounded in the torso between two houses on Murray Avenue. He was treated at the scene and transported to Uniontown Hospital, where he later died.

Trooper Brian Burden, spokesman for the Uniontown barracks, said that because of the investigation, he couldn't say whether the youth had fired at the troopers or whether he was found to be armed. Police said Ellerbe was shot after a chase of several hundred yards.

An autopsy is planned, but it was not clear last night when it would be performed.

The troopers involved in the incident, Juan Curry and Samuel Nassan, both of the Uniontown barracks, were reassigned to administrative duties pending completion of the investigation by state police and the Fayette County district attorney's office. Such reassignments are routine when troopers are involved in critical incidents.