A Fayette County woman is organizing a rally to call for the dismissals of two state troopers involved in the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Michael Ellerbe.

Kayme Downard, a Uniontown activist, said the rally is scheduled for 9 a.m. April 14 on the courthouse steps.

"I'm not insinuating that all cops are bad, or that the whole barracks is, but we are demanding Officers Curry and Nassan be fired immediately and face criminal charges," Downard said. "We are also asking federal prosecutors to investigate District Attorney Nancy Vernon and her handling of the case."

A jury in a federal civil rights case awarded more than $28 million in damages to Ellerbe's family. Ellerbe was shot in the back Christmas Eve 2002 while running from state Troopers Juan Curry and Samuel Nassan.

The verdict contradicted previous criminal investigations that found the troopers' actions were justified. The troopers said Nassan shot Ellerbe, who was running from a stolen sport utility vehicle, after Curry's gun accidentally discharged. The gunfire led Nassan to believe his partner had been shot.