Family Of Child Fatally Shot Dead Sues Police For Opening Fire With Reckless Intention

The family of an eight-year-old girl who was killed in an apparent shootout last Aug. 27 wants justice for the child. They have reportedly filed a federal lawsuit against the Sharon Hill police after some officers opened fire recklessly after a Philadelphia high school football game.

According to CNN, the lawsuit was filed on Tuesday, Oct. 26. The family of the victim, Fanta Bility are suing Sharon Hill, Police Chief Joseph Kelly Jr. and at least three Sharon Hill officers who allegedly shot the 8-year-old outside the stadium as people were exiting.

The family is batting that the officers for using misconduct and excessive force. There was a verbal altercation that occurred after the game and the whole thing escalated into a gunfight as most of those in attendance were leaving.

Aside from Bility, also injured were her 12-year-old sister and a 13-year-old boy in the shooting. A 20-year-old woman who was a passenger in a car was also injured by shattered glass.

As of this writing, the three officers have declined to comment due to the pending litigation. Efforts were also made to reach Sharon Hill Mayor Harry Dunfee and the police department but both have not issued a statement.

Overall, the lawsuit accuses the officers of firing multiple shots at people in a moving car. The people in the vehicle were reportedly unarmed and had not engaged in criminal activity. Regardless, officers fired multiple shots and unreasonably. Officers also fired beyond the moving vehicle and into a crowd of innocent people who were leaving the stadium at that time.

The officers and the police department are now under investigation. The DA's office has identified the suspects in the initial confrontation and is reviewing the officers' discharge of their weapons.

Former Philadelphia District Attorney Kelley Hodge has been commissioned to check on the department’s policies and conduct of the officers. The three suspects are now on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.