In 2017, a Pennsylvania State Trooper shot and killed 34-year-old Washington man Anthony Gallo while he was having a mental breakdown. In 2017, a federal jury gave $21 million to the family of Gallo.
His family had called 911 for help.
Robert Herrington, Gallo’s cousin, said, “We thought it was going to be an ambulance.”
It’s been seven years since Cara Sapida of Channel 11 talked to Herrington. He was with Gallo when it took place.
“When the police arrived with AR-15s, I told them, ‘Look, there’s no need for guns at all. He’s not in the right frame of mind, but he’s not going to hurt anyone,'” Herrington said in 2017.
Herrington can still remember it clearly after seven years.
“He started to walk to the back, and before they even said anything, they dumped on him. I remember it like it was yesterday.” “I was right next to the door when they shot him,” Herrington said.
On Wednesday, jurors in federal court heard from witnesses. Trooper Chad Weaver said that Gallo’s knife made him afraid for his life, which is why he opened fire. According to another soldier, the knife stayed by Gallo’s side and was never raised.
The jury agreed with the Gallo family that killing the man 10 times was too much and gave them $21 million.
Betty Gallo, Gallo’s mother, told Channel 11 today off-camera that her daughter cried and passed out in court. She’s glad to be done with it, but it won’t bring her son back. The rest of Gallo’s family feels the same way.
In Harrisburg, a spokesperson for the state police said they are looking into the ruling and have nothing to say at this time.
