Three former Sharon Hill police officers from Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in reckless endangerment to the death in August 2021 of an 8-year old girl. The shootings occurred in a densely populated area.
Devon Smith, Brian Devaney, and Sean Dolan were each charged with 12 counts of reckless endangerment and manslaughter in the shooting death of 8-year old Fanta Bility. Fox station WTXF reported in Philadelphia that all three police officers were also fired.
Fanta Bility, an 8-year old girl, was shot to death by Sharon Hill police officers in Pennsylvania. The shooting occurred after the officers opened fire on a crowd following a football match on Aug. 27, 2021. (Fox WTXF)
Bility’s family reached a deal with the officers and they pleaded guilty instead to 10 counts reckless endangerment.
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On Thursday, the family of Bility spoke out about the plea agreement at a press conference.
Abu Bility, Fanta’s uncle, stated that “on this past year the hurt caused Sharon Hill Borough’s police department has overcome our families with tremendous grief.” “The pain we feel continuously, we are reliving our loss of our dear Fanta, who was 8 years old at the time she was shot and killed by Sharon Hill police officers.
Fanta was eight years old when Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania police officers shot into a crowd after a football match on Aug. 27, 2021. (Fox WTXF)
He stated that it was difficult to put into words the events Fanta’s mom and siblings witnessed during her shooting.
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Fanta and her family were going to leave a high school football match when they encountered two people who engaged in a shooting contest in front of a large crowd.
Protesters demand that police be held accountable for Fanta Bility’s death at the Delaware County Courthouse, Media, Pa. on Thursday, January 13, 2022. Police say that officers responded to gunfire between two teenagers when Bility was struck by a bullet from a police officer in 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
According to officials, the men fired at the officers who were there to control the crowd.
They then opened fire on a vehicle that they believed was involved. Authorities added, striking Fanta.
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Bility stated that it was difficult to put into words the horror experienced by her mother and siblings who witnessed the tragic event. They will have to deal with the trauma forever. It is still hard to accept that Fanta, our beloved, has passed away forever.
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Bility’s family stated that they hoped that the plea of the police officers would allow them to begin to recover.
Bility stated, “We pray that police officers are held accountable so we, as a family, and as a community can finally have closure and start the healing process.”
Jan. 12 is the date for sentencing of the three officers.
