Credit: Delaware County District Attorney’s Office
Three police officers have been charged with manslaughter in relation to a shooting that happened at a Delaware County high school football game where Pennsbury High School had just played.
The shooting happened the Academy Park High School stadium in Sharon Hill Borough late last August. Fanta Bility, 8, was killed by what investigators have said was gunfire from police officers.
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The officers were firing in response to gunfire between Angelo “AJ” Ford, 16, and Hasein Strand, 19, who had been in a dispute near the stadium. Two gunshots were in the direction of the officers and the fans leaving the game between Academy Park and Pennsbury high schools, according to authorities.
The investigation uncovered officers opened fire at the suspects and toward the crowd leaving the game. A car that was not involved in the dispute and Fanta were struck by gunfire from police. Several others were injured and Fanta died at the hospital, authorities said.
Fanta’s family and advocates have pushed for more answers from law enforcement following the shooting. A grand jury was convened in the wake of the incident.
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Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer’s office announced Tuesday the three Sharon Hill Borough police officers – Brian James Devaney, 41, Sean Patrick Dolan, 25, and Devon E. Smith, 34 – were arrested for their alleged role in the death.
The three were charged with voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and 10 counts of reckless endangerment. The three officers were preliminarily arraigned and bail was set at $500,000 unsecured.
The grand jury found they should be charged in relation to the shooting.
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Sollsteimer announced the homicide charges against Ford and Strand in the girl’s death have been withdrawn, but they remain charged with aggravated assault for the nearby shooting.
The initial homicide charge against the teens came because the Ford and Strand’s actions led to the chain of events which ended with Fanta’s death, Stollsteimer explained last fall.
“I have directed my office to withdraw murder charges against defendants A.J. Ford and Hasein Strand for their role in the killing of Fanta Bility. While I believe these defendants should be held accountable for starting the series of events that ultimately led to Fanta Bility’s death, developments during the grand jury investigation render it appropriate to withdraw these charges at this time,” Stollsteimer said Tuesday in a statement.
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Bruce Castor, the former Montgomery County District Attorney who is representing Fanta’s family and another victim, said the family is pleased with the new charges.
“The Bility family thanks District Attorney Stollsteimer and his staff of investigators and prosecutors for following the evidence and the law in bringing forth these charges today,” Castor said in a statement. “The family appreciates that the District Attorney has kept the family informed at every stage of this investigation. From the beginning he assured them that he would seek justice for Fanta, and today’s charges indicate that he’s done exactly that. They made the right call.”
The Associated Press reported the president of Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 27 was not pleased with the charges and planned to provide a “vigorous defense” for the officers.
“No one touched by this incident will ever be the same. I hope that today’s announcement will help the community begin to heal through the knowledge that all the individuals who fired guns that night are being held accountable for their actions under our laws,” said Stollsteimer.
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The Sharon Hill Borough solicitor issued a statement the municipality would look to fire the three officers who were charged.
Pennsbury football players were on the field after the game when the shots rang out. They took cover and helped others as the mayhem unfolded.
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“Helmets on, helmets on, helmets on,” coaches reportedly screamed at the players.
No Pennsbury students or staff were hurt.
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In September, Pennsbury Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith recognized the staff and students for their actions.
The Pennsbury community raised funds for Fanta’s family in the wake of her death.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
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