CRIMINAL CHARGES ANNOUNCED IN MARCHELLO WOODARD CASE

ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA (December 19, 2025) – Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz formally announced charges in connection with the officer-involved shooting of Marchello Woodard that occurred on July 2, 2025, involving a parole agent employed by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole.

She made the following statement:

This morning a criminal complaint was signed by Magisterial District Judge Paul Bizzaro charging Pennsylvania State Parole Agent Kevin Seelinger with one count of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.

Seelinger turned himself in to the Pennsylvania State Police and is currently being held without bail.

I want to recognize the many individuals in the community who have waited patiently for a determination in this matter. Such patience reflects and understanding of the care and deliberation required when reviewing an incident of this gravity.

I want to acknowledge the family of Marchello Woodard, the victim. We reached out to notify them of this decision prior to today’s announcement. My office and I extend our condolences to them, and we recognize the profound loss that they have suffered.

I would like to expressly thank the Pennsylvania State Police for their professionalism, diligence, and assistance in conducting a thorough and objective investigation.

Their work was essential in ensuring that evidence was collected, preserved and presented in a manner that allowed for an independent prosecutorial review by this office.

This case will now proceed through the judicial process; a process that may take time. It will be governed by the established rules of criminal procedure and ultimately resolved in a courtroom where the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Because this matter is now the subject of active criminal litigation, my office will not make further public statements regarding evidence, the credibility of witnesses, or the merits of the case.

This restraint is required by the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct governing pre-trial publicity by prosecutors, which exist to safeguard the integrity of the proceedings and the rights of all parties involved.

The district attorney’s office remains committed to these ethical and legal responsibilities, and to ensuring that this matter is resolved through a fair and impartial judicial proceeding.

Contact ehirz@eriecountypa.gov with further questions.