PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The family of the 8-year-old girl who was killed outside a high school football game in August is suing Sharon Hill Borough and the police officers who, according to the district attorney’s office, fired the deadly shots.
Fanta Bility was shot and killed outside the Academy Park High School football stadium on Aug. 27.
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office said, “with near certainty,” it was shots fired by police that killed her.
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The lawsuit asks for “answers and damages for the tragic and unnecessary death.”
The suit says Sharon Hill police violated the girl’s constitutional rights, and, it says, borough policies allowed police to act in a reckless manner.
The district attorney’s office said its investigation shows there were several gunshots about a block away from the stadium entrance as fans were leaving. Around the same time that those shots were fired, a car turned on the street near the stadium entrance. That’s when police opened fire.
The lawsuit says two young women were in that car. They were not involved in the shooting and were not a threat.
The shooting is under investigation by a grand jury.
Sharon Hill Solicitor Sean Kilkenny said the borough will file a response to the lawsuit.
In a statement, the council added, “The entire Borough family grieves for Fanta Billity’s family and all those affected by the Academy Park High School Football Game Shooting.”