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Family of man shot, killed after firing at Wilkinsburg officer wants transparency

PITTSBURGH — The attorney for the family of a man who was shot and killed by a police officer Sunday morning in Wilkinsburg said the family wants transparency.

Attorney Todd Hollis held a news conference Tuesday morning, during which he read a statement from 24-year-old Romir Talley’s mother. She described her son as a bright young man whom the system failed.

Police said Talley was shot after he fired at a Wilkinsburg officer during a foot chase. Authorities were initially called because a man, believed to be Talley, was allegedly threatening someone with a gun.

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Hollis said Tuesday Talley’s family does not feel like police have been transparent with them about the investigation.

“It goes a long way to building a relationship of trust if there's transparency. To date, I don't know I can definitely say there is transparency,” Hollis said.

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Allegheny County police are investigating the shooting, but Hollis said he will conduct his own investigation to get answers and closure for Talley’s family.

The officer who shot Talley is on administrative leave, as per protocol.

Channel 11 has learned it’s not the first time the Talley family has dealt with a death in the hands of a police officer.

“Romir’s father died under very similar circumstances. He was shot 20 times by a police officer and now you have the son who died under very similar circumstances," Hollis said.

In 2005, Talley’s father Vincent Napper led police on a chase through the East End and Penn Hills before crashing his car and firing at police.

Last year, the family also lost Talley’s 18-month-old daughter Charlette. Fentanyl was found in the child’s system and on her sippy cup.

Her mother, Jhenea Pratt, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and is now serving five to 10 years in prison.