14-year-old girl killed in accidental shooting inside home: Police
A 14-year-old girl was shot and killed Thursday afternoon in what police say was an accidental shooting inside her home, leaving her family members and neighbors shaken.
“It was so sad to see this happen to this special little girl,” a neighbor said.
Upper Darby police said four juveniles were alone in the home when they found a handgun. Investigators say the teens were playing with the gun in a bedroom when it discharged, hitting the girl in the head.
“My heart goes out to the family and the child,” said neighbor Aspara Agyeman.
Police Commissioner Timothy Bernhardt said investigators were questioning the juveniles present.
“We are speaking with these miners right now. We are trying to determine exactly what happened,” he said.
A neighbor told police he heard a single gunshot coming from the home in the 100 block of Springton Road and immediately called 911.
“He was a neighbor, so I wanted to make sure everything was OK,” he said.
Body camera audio captured the officers being told, “You’re going to have to come in.” There may be a shot woman inside. »
Police arrived around 1:40 p.m. and rushed the schoolboy to hospital. She was later pronounced dead.
“We hate to see a young person who had their whole life ahead of them and now they don’t have any life left,” Agyeman said.
Bernhardt urged families to get guns to avoid similar tragedies.
“I would like children to realize the danger of a gun, and here is an incident that no one can take back. You can’t do it again. Someone lost their life and three other minors are going to have to live with that,” he said.
He added that the department provides free gun locks and safes to township residents who need them.
Police are still trying to determine who owned the gun and who was holding it when she fired it. No charges have been filed.
The school district said counselors will be available Friday for students at Beverly Hills Middle School.
