UPPER DARBY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Upper Darby police have announced charges in the shooting death of a 14-year-old girl on Thursday.
A neighbor told our newsgathering partners at NBC10 that he heard gunshots inside a home on the 100 block of Springton Road, then saw several teens run out of the house. He called 911 and then the girl's mother, who was at work at the time. Officials had ruled it an accidental shooting and said they believed it was the result of children playing with a gun.
On Friday, Upper Darby police said a teenager will be charged as an adult with third-degree murder in connection with the incident. The exact details of the shooting have not yet been released. The Upper Darby School District said it is working with police as they look further into the incident.
“We ask that everyone keep the family of our 14-year-old victim in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” police said.
Upper Darby School District Superintendent Daniel P. McGarry shared resources with parents about discussing the consequences of playing with guns and the grieving process after violent events. On Friday, professionals were available at Beverly Hills Middle School — where the 14-year-old attended — to lend support to those beginning the grieving process.
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 a lockbox or cable lock that will prevent your gun from firing.
