“The death of Fanta and the wounding of her sister and the other students are a heart-breaking tragedy for her family, her friends, and the entire Delaware County community,” said Stollsteimer. Stollsteimer said leadership in his office and the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division have been working “around the clock” since the shooting to gather information and the investigation is ongoing, but he felt it was best to be transparent about the initial findings.
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The District Attorney’s Office had no information on the names, ages or extent of injuries suffered by the other victims Thursday, but the statement indicated they were all students. Academy Park players also eventually emerged and promptly left the facility.Īmong the other victims were Bility’s sister and a 10th-grader at Academy Park, according to prior reports and official statements. Pennsbury players were initially ordered into the press box by coaches before they were told to reverse course and sprinted to their team bus. Several ducked behind a small maintenance vehicle while both teams sprinted to the back of the stands on the far side of the stadium. McCaffery said that by the time the seventh shot rang out, coaches and other administrators had ordered all people on the field to take cover. Players from both teams were still on the field and had just finished meeting with their coaches when the shots came in quick succession, according to Daily Times sports reporter Jack McCaffery. He placed the gunfire near the entrance of the arena. Kilkenny said council had reviewed Stollsteimer’s statement and thanked him and the investigative team for their efforts, and signaled that council would also be engaging an outside firm to conduct an administrative investigation to ensure that “all our policies and procedures were followed in relation to this incident.”Ī Daily Times sports reporter covering the game previously said he heard seven shots while doing post-game interviews, which were recorded on audio equipment. “This has been a difficult time for the entire borough family.” “(Council) President Terrence Oliver and Sharon Hill Borough Council, Mayor Dunfee, and the entire Sharon Hill Borough family grieves for Fanta Bility’s family and all those affected by last Friday’s tragedy at the Academy Park High School football game,” the statement said. The names of the officers are not being released at this time, Kilkenny said. “Tragically, our investigation has now determined that there is a high probability that the responsive gunfire of the Sharon Hill police officers struck four victims, including the shots that killed 8-year-old Fanta Bility and wounded her sister.”Ĭalls to the Sharon Hill Police Department after the release of this information Thursday afternoon went unanswered, but borough Solicitor Sean Kilkenny issued a statement later in the day indicating the police department is fully cooperating with the investigation and all officers involved in the shooting had been placed on administrative leave. “In response to the gunfire, the police officers discharged their service weapons,” Stollsteimer said.
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That gunfire included a shot in the direction of three Sharon Hill police officers monitoring the crowd of about 600 exiting the football stadium, which struck and injured a civilian, according to Stollsteimer.
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Stollsteimer said in a statement that physical evidence and community witnesses establish the incident began with gun shots on the 900 block of Coates Street. MEDIA – There is a “high probability” that a child killed during a shootout at an Academy Park High School football game last Friday in Sharon Hill was struck by a bullet fired by a police officer, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced Thursday.Įight-year-old Fanta Bility was fatally struck and at least four others were wounded when bullets started flying shortly after the game between Academy Park and Pennsbury high schools concluded about 9 p.m.