Cops Fire 25 Rounds Into Innocent Crowd at Football Game, Killing an 8-Year-Old Little Girl and Shooting Her Family

When Fanta Bility, 8, and her family went to a high school football game in August, they had no idea their greatest dread would come true that night. Unfortunately, according to a complaint filed this week, that is precisely what occurred as a result of a bunch of trigger-happy police officers employing excessive force.

As Fanta and her family exited the game that night, police opened fire on their party, fatally shooting Fanta and injuring numerous others, including her elder sister. Two months have passed since tiny Fanta breathed her death and no one has been accused. The family is no longer wasting time and has chosen to pursue legal action.

Attorney Bruce L. Castor filed a complaint against the borough of Sharon Hill and the police officers who opened fire on Tuesday, citing excessive force and insufficient training.

According to Castor, the girl's family is seeking "answers and compensation for the terrible and senseless death... as well as the injuries and anguish imposed on others as a consequence of Sharon Hill Police officers' actions."

On August 27, Fanta and her family were leaving an Academy Park High football game when a gunshot occurred approximately a block away following an altercation between two persons. When a car pulled in front of the stadium exit, the gunfire had ceased and the football spectators were peacefully exiting.

For whatever reason, police outside the stadium opened fire on the car, which was surrounded by a mob. They fired 25 shots. Fanta was struck in the back by one of the bullets. Fanta's mother, Tenneh Kromah, "attempted to console the terror-stricken little child before she died" in her mother's arms that night, according to the complaint.

Castor claims in the complaint that police officers were "deliberately inattentive and recklessly" and that the borough and its police chief gave officers "tacit authority" to act in this way.

According to the complaint, which was first published by the Philadelphia Inquirer, officers Devon Smith, John Scanlan III, and an unknown third cop all discharged their firearms that night, but the third officer is not mentioned in the case.

"The suit's primary focus is on Sharon Hill Borough's insufficient training and supervision of its police officers, as well as the police officers' gross negligence or reckless behaviour, which resulted in Fanta's death and her sister's injury," Castor told WHYY Philadelphia.

Apart from Fanta and her sister Mawatta, two other ladies were shot by police that evening. These two ladies were recent Academy Park High School graduates who were passengers in the car upon which cops opened fire. According to a law enforcement source, the passengers of the car were there that night to watch the football game and had nothing to do with the original firing.

The Delaware County Melanated Caucus has demanded the firing of all three cops who opened fire that night. The lawsuit echoes the caucus's request.

Castor, who worked in law enforcement for three decades, has stated that he understands what constitutes an acceptable level of force and that, while he does not believe the officers acted maliciously or with the intent to kill, he believes they acted recklessly and are responsible for the child's death.

Indeed, firing fire into a gathering of people, including young children, in order to shoot at a car that was not involved in the first shooting is, to put it mildly, dangerous.

"There is not a single police force in the nation that instructs officers that it is OK to fire at a moving car in certain situations," Castor added. "And there is not a single police agency in the whole nation that instructs officers that it is OK to fire their weapon, in this instance 25 times, into a crowd. As a result, I'm rather certain Sharon Hills is culpable in this case."

According to Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, a grand jury is investigating the incident to decide if criminal charges against the police are necessary.

There have been no charges filed in connection with the shooting that night. Three individuals were originally held but subsequently freed.