Family says man 'wasn't himself' before he was shot, killed by police

CANTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The two relatives who were last with Anthony Gallo, before he was shot and killed by police in Washington County on Sunday, tell Channel 11 Gallo was suicidal, not homicidal.

"He even told me in the trailer just to leave him alone or he's going to take his life," Shirley Grey, Gallo's grandmother, said.

The family said called for an ambulance hoping to get him committed, but when Pennsylvania State police showed up things quickly escalated.

PHOTOS: Anthony Gallo, man shot, killed by state police

Grey said, in May, Gallo was in a car accident, smashed his head into the windshield and hadn't been the same since.

She said he wasn't himself all day yesterday and spent the day "counting" out loud.

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Grey didn't know he had a kitchen knife on him, as he was pacing back and forth outside.

"I was standing right outside, in the trailer until they showed up, he's not in the right state of mind, he wouldn't hurt a fly," Herring said.

Robert Herring, Gallo's cousin, said he was by his side the entire time, trying to calm him, but said Gallo never directly threatened anyone.

He told police there were no need for guns and that Gallo wasn't in the right state of mind.

State police held a press conference today addressing the shooting.

Investigators said Gallo had been threatening neighbors before they got on scene, and even lunged for a trooper when told to drop the knife.

“These decisions must often be made in a micro second under extreme duress,” State Police Capt. Joseph Ruggery said.

But Gallo's family members insist he was never a threat to anyone but himself.

State police say no one was hurt leading up to the shooting. Both troopers are on administrative duty while they continue to investigate.