PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two teenagers have been charged with murder related to the shooting death of an 8-year-old girl in Sharon Hill. The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office says their actions at a high school football game resulted in the girl’s death.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said 16-year-old Angelo “AJ” Ford, from Sharon Hill, and 18-year-old Hasein Strand, from Collingdale, got into an argument at the Academy Park High School football game on Aug. 27.
“Ford had a firearm on him,” Stollsteimer said. “Strand left the stadium to get his firearm. They walked approximately a block away from the football stadium and they started firing at each other.”
Stollsteimer said Strand fired toward the stadium as the crowd was leaving. In response, Sharon Hill police officers opened fire, killing 8-year-old Fanta Bility in their wake.
The two teens are charged with her murder.
“Under Pennsylvania law, their intent to kill is transferred from each other to the young lady who was killed,” he explained, “so they are legally and criminally responsible under Pennsylvania law for her death.”
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Stollsteimer noted this is only one part of the investigation. A grand jury is being seated to look at the actions of the police officers.
“They will hear the evidence, including the police officers’ justification for the use of force, and determine if any other charges are warranted at this time,” he said.
Ford is in custody. Following his arraignment, he will be transferred to the county jail and held without bond.
Police are still searching for Strand. Both defendants face other charges in addition to murder.
“These two individuals decided they would settle out with gunfire outside of a football stadium,” Stollsteimer added, while people were “milling around trying to go home. There’s something intrinsically, horribly wrong with that.”
Four people, including Fanta, were hit by gunfire. One of the people who was wounded was hit by gunfire from Strand, according to the district attorney.