UPPER DARBY, P.A. (KYW Newsradio) — A student in the Upper Darby School District in Delaware County has died, in what officials believe was a case of accidental gunfire.
Upper Darby School District Superintendent Daniel P. McGarry said Thursday afternoon that a student was shot inside their home. Upper Darby Police are still investigating the incident, but authorities believe the shooting was the result of children playing with a gun.
The school district said it is working with police as they look further into the incident, and officials said they will provide updates as they become available.
Adam Garber is the CEO of CeaseFire PA, an anti-gun violence advocacy group, and said if you have a gun in the home, keeping it locked away is paramount:
“You don’t want any unauthorized individual — especially a child — getting access to that firearm,” he said. “The American Academy of Pediatrics, and experts, recommend always securing your firearm, ideally unloaded.”
Options include getting a lockbox or getting a cable lock that will prevent your gun from firing.
McGarry shared resources with parents about discussing the consequences of playing with guns and the grieving process after violent events. There will also be professionals available at Beverly Hills Middle School — where the child attended — on Friday to lend support to those beginning the grieving process.
