Community Activists Call For Further Investigation Into Shooting Of Police K-9 Stabbing Suspect

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Alliance for Police Accountability is calling for an investigation into a shooting that killed a suspect who fatally stabbed a police K-9 in Wilkinsburg.

Anger is growing over the Jan. 31 shooting of Bruce Kelley Jr.

"To kill a man with a pocket knife, with nine or 10 officers around, when his initial crime was drinking in public, I don't care what the law says, that's wrong," says Tim Stevens, a community activist.

Kelley was shot and killed by Port Authority Police after they attempted to arrest him for public drunkenness. He took off, and police sent a K-9 after him.

Kelley stabbed and killed the dog, and then investigators say officers shot Kelley 12 times.

"Though it may be understandable that Officer O'Malley felt compelled to shoot Mr. Kelley after seeing his dog being stabbed, it is not justifiable nor legal," said Brandi Fisher, of the Alliance for Police Accountability. "We are hopeful that District Attorney Zappala will come to the same conclusion."

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While the district attorney investigates, animal rights groups say police dogs should be used for sniffing bombs and drugs, not attacking people.

"Using dogs on people makes injuries to the person and the dog inevitable," said Sandra Rosenfeld, an animal rights activist. "When the dog is released on a person, the situation will be escalated."