SHARON HILL, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Delaware County borough has agreed to pay $11 million to the family of a child shot to death by police.
Fanta Bility’s family settled their wrongful death suit against Sharon Hill Borough for $11 million. The borough confirmed the settlement on its website Thursday.
The 8-year-old Bility was in a car with family members leaving a football game at Academy Park High School in August 2021 when two teenagers shot at one another near the entrance to the field.
Officers Sean Dolan, Brian Devaney and Devon Smith heard the gunshots and, thinking the gunfire involved the car, opened fire, striking Fanta in the back. She died moments later in her mother’s arms. Four others were also injured.
The settlement requires Sharon HIll police to undergo training and for the borough to form a citizen’s advisory committee that will have influence in police hiring decisions.
In its statement, the borough says, “Although we cannot undo the tragic events of that day, we hope that the resolution of the lawsuit might provide those impacted a small measure of closure.”
The three officers were later fired, before pleading guilty last year to reckless endangerment charges. They were sentenced to five years probation, with the first 11 months served under house arrest.