Credit: Pennsbury School District
After gunfire erupted right after a late August football game between Pennsbury High School and Academy Park High School in Sharon Hill, Delaware County, district staff and students reacted quickly to the heart-pounding situation.
Pennsbury Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith said last week that the Friday, August 27 shooting was “every parent and educators’ worse nightmare.”
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Fanta Bility, 8, was killed when she was hit by gunfire moments after the game ended and fans started leaving the stadium. Four others were hit by bullets, but survived.
Within minutes of news of the shooting getting back to Pennsbury, Smith spoke with the football coach, fellow administrators, and school board President Christine Toy-Dragoni, the superintendent said.
By the time the football team arrived back at the Falls Township high school, more than two dozen administrators and counselors were at the high school to prepare to hear those on site for the shooting talk, decompress, and process what happened.
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Smith said the players helped bystanders get to safety when the shots rang out. He added that in one case, Pennsbury players shielded young children.
Smith said the coaches, bus drivers, and district security guards at the away game quickly worked to keep students safe and get them on buses back to the district.
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Coaches even came to the aid of one person who was struck by gunfire, Smith said.
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“Together, Pennsbury staff and players acted quickly,” the superintendent said.
“This is an event we never hoped to face. But due to the leadership of our staff, every member of the team arrived safety back at PHS,” Pennsbury High School Co-Principal Lisa Becker said.
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The Pennsbury High School Football Booster Club is raising funds to help the family of the young girl killed and her sister, who survived but was also hit by gunfire. To donate, click here.
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office on Monday announced that four of the five gunshot victims, including Fanta, were most likely struck by bullets fired by police. The officers were responding to shots they heard fire during an altercation. The matter has been suggested to go before a grand jury in Delaware County and an a law firm has been brought into review the actions of the three officers who fired shots.
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