Teen to be charged with 3rd-degree murder after girl accidentally shot and killed in Upper Darby

A 14-year-old boy will be charged with third-degree murder after an accidental shooting at an Upper Darby home left a teenage girl dead.

The boy will be charged as an adult, police told Action News Friday. Investigators say they determined he had the gun in his hand based on interviews with witnesses.

No one else faces charges. The name of the teenager charged has not been released.

The shooting happened as a group of friends gathered at a home Thursday afternoon along the 100 block of Springton Road.

Upper Darby Police Commissioner Timothy Bernhardt said investigators believe a group of friends, including two boys and two girls, were hanging out at the house. He says they got a gun from the house and it went off while they were playing with it in the upstairs bedroom.

According to authorities, only one bullet was fired, hitting the victim in the head.

“What we know is it wasn’t like it was an act of violence, it wasn’t like it was a fight, it wasn’t a dispute,” Bernhardt said.

According to the criminal complaint, the 14-year-old boy admitted to detectives that he knew the victim’s mother kept a handgun in her bedroom closet. They took the gun and eventually went to the victim’s bedroom, where the shooting took place. A witness told police she heard the boy say, “Oh my God, I just killed her!”

Bernhardt said the girl’s mother was still trying to get over her loss. He highlighted the dangers of unsecured firearms, noting that the municipality provides free locks to adults.

“There’s no re-doing anything when it comes to guns. Once a life is taken, it can’t be taken back,” Bernhardt said. He added that the boy was being charged “for his extreme recklessness in playing with this handgun.”

“Children need to understand that guns are not toys,” he added. “One bad decision, one moment of inattention forever changed the lives of our victim’s family, the three other minors who were there, their families and our entire community.”

It was a somber start to the day Friday, as students, parents and staff returned to Beverly Hills Middle School, where authorities say the victim was a student.

“It’s a sad thing for the parents, so I’m really sorry to everyone,” said Samantha Myers of Upper Darby.

The school district also provided grief counselors.

Neighbors expressed shock and sadness upon learning of the charges and the girl’s death.

“It’s a lot for a 14-year-old, but he has to face the consequences,” said neighbor Ida McKnight. “We all know what guns do, and he knows what guns do.”

Another neighbor said: “I feel really bad and sad that this happened to the little girl. »

“It’s unfortunate that this happened. I’m sorry to the family. I’m really sorry to the mom,” McKnight added.

She said neighbors plan to support the family, saying, “We all live as one. We need to show love to each other. It’s about love and happiness.”

Police said the teen was arrested Friday evening and remains behind bars.