3 Pennsylvania police officers charged in killing of 8-year-old girl at football game
01/19/2022 1:52 pm PST
DELAWARE COUNTY, Penn. (TCD) -- Three officers with the Sharon Hill Police Department have been charged in connection with the shooting death of an 8-year-old girl in August.
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office announced in a statement Jan. 18 that Devon Smith, Sean Dolan, and Brian Devaney each face 12 charges total of manslaughter and reckless endangerment regarding Fanta Bility’s Aug. 27 death. NBC Philadelphia reports they are each charged with voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and 10 counts of reckless endangerment.
According to the District Attorney’s office, shots initially broke out on the 900 block of Coates Street in Sharon Hill, two of which were reportedly aimed at the three officers. The officers were reportedly monitoring people leaving a football game at Academy Park High School. The defendants reportedly shot back with their service weapons and struck four people, including Bility.
The statement said, "We have now concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that it was, in fact, shots from the officers that struck and killed Fanta Bility and injured three others."
An altercation, which led to the shots, reportedly broke out at the football game between 16-year-old Angelo "AJ" Ford and 18-year-old Hasein Strand. Ford is charged with "serious crimes for his attempt to kill defendant Strand." Strand reportedly pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for wounding a child bystander during the fight and illegal possession of a firearm.
District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said he will withdraw murder charges against Ford and Strand for killing Bility.
Bail was set at $500,000 for each defendant.
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