Family seeks transparency in death of man shot by city officer

A state legislator and others Friday joined with family members of a man who was shot by a Pittsburgh police officer Sunday to demand that authorities release more information about the fatal encounter.

“When government officials take a person’s life, the community has a right to demand answers,” said Witold Walczak, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania. “We are told this man just started shooting at police officers. Huh? Why? That does not make any sense, especially with what we know about this man.”

Mark Daniels, 39, of Pittsburgh was killed after an exchange of gunfire near Bennett Street and Neuman Way in Homewood while officers were patrolling on foot about 1:20 a.m. Sunday, according to Allegheny County police.

County police Superintendent Coleman McDonough said in a statement that two officers saw Daniels leaving Bett’s Market at 819 Brushton Ave. and took note of him because of his “subsequent behavior,” which was not described. A community email from the Zone 5 police station said Daniels took an “aggressive stance.”

The officers walked south on Neuman, parallel to Daniels, who walked south on Brushton, Superintendent McDonough said.

At 1:19 a.m., Daniels emerged from behind a building at Bennett and Neuman and fired shots at the officers, according to the news release. One officer returned fire. Daniels ran, the officers gave chase, and then the same officer fired again, Superintendent McDonough said.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office late Friday said Daniels died after a bullet struck