Exactly two weeks after 43-year-old Marchello Woodard was fatally shot, the Erie community is still demanding answers.

That call for transparency took center stage at tonight’s City Council meeting, which was packed with people, many wearing white shirts emblazoned with “Justice for Chello,” their chants echoing throughout the room.

One of the speakers was Marchello Woodard’s father, Charles Woodard, 
“You don’t know what this loss has done to my family. I don’t have a son anymore. I just buried another son on February 14th. Two funerals — that’s a heavy cost.”

Terry Woodard, Marchello’s cousin shared, “It means a lot to be here today, seeing all this support, this packed room. To be able to speak out, to have our voices heard about Marchello Woodard — what we want is an arrest.”

Charles added: “Slow down and let them find the right person. But if it’s jail, they need to go to, then take them there.”

Terry expressed frustration saying, “It makes us feel unsafe — because an unarmed Black man was gunned down by an armed white man.”

Charles Woodard shared “For the Woodard family, we get nothing. I didn’t have a son for Christmas... for everything.”

City Council member Chuck Nelson said, “What I feel here — and I believe you do too — is helplessness. As many of you have said, we are helpless in this situation.”

Tyler Titus, also a member of city council said, “I want to say this loud and clear — I am in this fight, and I will be as loud as I can.”