The grandmother of a man accused of killing three Pittsburgh police officers chained herself to a railing outside her Stanton Heights home last night and stayed there for hours, even after police unchained her.

The drama at the site where the officers were slain was amplified as mourners trickled past the scene and angry neighbors looked on.

Saying she wanted to retrieve medical records, insurance records, clothes and other belongings from the home at 1016 Fairfield St., Catherine Scott sat on the steps in front of her yard, cloaked with a Steelers blanket, a book of "Healing Prayers" in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other.

Police have said the inside of the home remains an active crime scene, which is why she has not been allowed inside, but declined to comment further. Uprooted shrubs, boarded windows and a missing piece of concrete walkway where one of the city officers died were reminders of the deadly standoff, which happened a week ago today.

"All this is showboating," said Stanton Heights resident Kathleen Gilkey, who stood in the street holding black wreaths bearing the names of slain officers Stephen J. Mayhle, Paul J. Sciullo II and Eric G. Kelly while Ms. Scott sat, reading from her prayer book in silence.

"The focus needs to be on these police officers. She just wants attention, and she's trying to direct attention away from them."

Ms. Scott, whose grandson, Richard Poplawski, 22, is charged in the killings, said she arrived about 3 p.m., knelt near the walkway, prayed and then chained herself to a wrought iron railing. At 6 p.m., she was still there, but her chain had been removed. She stayed past dusk and vowed to remain indefinitely.

Three squad cars sat parked at Antoinette and Fairfield streets, and a handful of police officers watched the bizarre scene unfold. Ms. Scott appeared unmoved by several mourners who stopped by to add flowers to a growing makeshift memorial of poems, pictures, flags, bouquets and cards, all propped up around a utility pole.

Neighbors peered at her from their windows and porches, watched from the sidewalk and occasionally denounced her actions to the many reporters and camera crews who showed up.

"This is a total injustice, for her to come out here and be allowed to sit," neighbor Lenell Reid said. "These police officers have been through enough to serve and protect us, and here she is, just spitting in their faces."

Neighbors, some wearing memorial T-shirts for the fallen officers, paced the street. Ms. Gilkey and Jenny Skrinjar, of Lawrenceville, continued to clutch the black wreaths, saying they would stay there as long as Ms. Scott did.

"I'm not here to make a fiasco ... They pay attention to me because they have nothing better to do," said Ms. Scott, who burned a tall "religious candle" she purchased at a dollar store as a light rain began to fall. "All I want is to get my stuff."