Wilkinsburg mayor denies waving gun during protest
Romir Talley supporters rallied on her street
Wilkinsburg Mayor Marita Garrett responded Wednesday to allegations she waved her gun at protesters who rallied the night before in front of her house.
The demonstrators had gathered in front of Ms. Garrett’s home Tuesday evening demanding updates on the investigation into the death of Romir Talley, who was killed in December by a Wilkinsburg police officer. The protest turned violent when the mayor’s mother, Beverly Garrett, pulled a protester by her hair.
During Wednesday’s news conference held in front of the
Wilkinsburg Borough building, Marita Garrett confirmed she was carrying a gun — “in event that it was necessary” to protect herself, she said — but denied waving it.
“It was not my intent [to use it], nor did I wave it at anyone,” she said.
“Yes, I do have a permit, and I do carry a weapon, and I did have it with me.”
She called the protesters’ actions “unfathomable.”
Rose Price, a Wilkinsburg resident who said she is a friend of Mr. Talley’s family, was at the news conference Wednesday and
the protest the day before.
Ms. Price said she saw Marita Garrett wave a gun in the air outside her home, located in the Blackridge section of Wilkinsburg, and claimed Beverly Garrett assaulted a protester and antagonized the group.
Ms. Price said Beverly Garrett was walking through the crowd of protesters when the altercation with the protester occurred. She did not say what instigated the confrontation.
In photos obtained by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a woman identified as Beverly Garrett can be seen with her hands on a protester.
The mayor did not address the allegations against her mother during Wednesday’s news conference. When reached afterward by the Post-Gazette, Marita Garrett declined to comment.
Ms. Garrett began the news conference by addressing the protesters’ demands that officials identify the officer who shot and killed Talley on Dec. 22. The mayor, who has been in office since 2018, said the investigation is being handled by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office and denied any allegations of a cover-up by her office or the Wilkinsburg police department.
She called on the DA’s office to release updates on the status of the investigation. “Everyone deserves transparency and justice,” she said.
In a statement, the DA’s office said Wednesday the “matter remains under review.”
Talley was shot seven times after police said he fired a shot at two officers during a foot pursuit, according to the report from Allegheny County police.
Ms. Price said Ms. Garrett needs to be more aggressive in pushing for the officers’ names to be released to the public.
“The officer is still riding around here probably, for all we know,” Ms. Price said. “Why haven’t they given the names of the officer? What are they hiding? It’s been a long six months.”