Fanta Bility (2021)
Overview
On August 27, 2021, Sharon Hill Pennsylvania Police Department officers Brian Devaney, Devon Smith, and Sean Dolan were working security at a high school football game. The officers heard gunfire that they thought was directed at them, and shot at a moving car. Three attendees were injured and 8-year-old Bility was killed.[1]
The two original shooters were arrested and charged with first-degree murder.[2]
The car was later determined to have not been related to the shooting.[2]
On November 18, 2021, a grand jury was empaneled to review the officers' use of force.[3]
On January 18, 2022, the DA announced that Bility had been killed by the officers' gunfire, and charged them each with 10 counts of reckless endangerment and singular counts of manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.[4] Charges against the original shooters were dropped.[2]
On January 21, 2022, the Borough Council voted to terminate the officers.[4]
On November 10, 2022, the officers pleaded guilty to 10 counts of reckless endangerment. The charges for voluntary and involuntary manslaughter were dropped.[1]
Officers Involved
Official Reports
Additional Sources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 KC Baker, Three Ex-Police Officers Plead Guilty in Fatal Shooting of 8-Year-Old Girl Who Was Hit With Stray Bullet, People, 2022-11-11
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sharon Hill Borough Council votes in favor of firing 3 officers charged in fatal shooting, ABC 6, 2022-01-21
- ↑ Charges Announced in the Academy Park Investigation, County of Delaware District Attorney, 2022-01-18
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Deena Zaru, Officers plead guilty to reckless endangerment in fatal shooting of 8-year-old Fanta Bility, ABC News, 2022-11-10
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