Family Of Man Who Stabbed K9 To File Wrongful Death Lawsuit

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The family of a man who was killed by police after stabbing a K-9 say they will file a wrongful death lawsuit.

The suit will be filed on behalf of the estate of Bruce Kelley Jr., who was shot and killed by officers in Wilkinsburg in January, after police say he stabbed and killed Port Authority K-9 Aren.

"We will be filing suit. We have some more work to do, but I think just as-is, to justify the filing of a lawsuit. Shooting Bruce Jr. 12 times was excessive force," explained attorney Noah Geary.

According to KDKA's Lynne Hayes-Freeland, the resisting arrest and aggravated assault charges against Kelley Jr.'s father were dropped.

Bruce Kelley Sr is back in court today. Resisting Arrest and an aggravated assault charge dropped! pic.twitter.com/s0L8tdBB14

— Lynne Hayes-Freeland (@PghLynne) March 3, 2016

60-year-old Bruce Kelley Sr. had been jailed on two counts of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and public drunkenness. Port Authority Police say Bruce Kelley Jr. and his father, Bruce Kelley Sr., got into a fight which lead to the altercation with police.

Defense attorney Blaine Jones stood up for his client.

"At no point in time did anyone see Mr. Kelley put any type of beverage to his lips, take a drink of this, they don't even know whose open container this was. If anything, the evidence may show Mr. Kelly was trying to stop the officers from striking his son," he said.

The incident prompted an outpouring of support for the slain K-9 and raised questions about the use of deadly force.

Kelley Sr. had been held on $300,000 bond, which was later reduced to $25,000.

This a developing story, stay with KDKA and KDKA.com for more information.

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