3 former Sharon Hill police officers plead guilty to lesser charge in fatal shooting of Fanta Bility
Fanta Bility was shot in August 2021 as she walked with her mother following a football game at Academy Park High School.
MEDIA, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- The three former Sharon Hill police officers charged with firing shots that killed 8-year-old Fanta Bility have pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment.
Former officers Brian Devaney, Sean Dolan, and Devon Smith were facing 12 criminal counts each of manslaughter and reckless endangerment.
The manslaughter charges were dropped as part of a plea deal negotiated by the district attorney.
Fanta's family approved of the deal, viewing it as the former officers taking accountability and admitting their wrongdoing. But the family also did not want to face the agony of reliving the tragedy in a jury trial on those more serious charges.
As misdemeanors, the 10 reckless endangerment charges each carry a maximum sentence of two years in prison, meaning the officers would face up to 20 years each in prison. Sentencing is set for January 12.
"We also want to make sure that Sharon Hill Borough is held accountable," said Fanta's cousin Siddiq Kamara.
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Still, Fanta's family views the plea deal as a victory and a relief.
"We can as a family and a community finally have some closure and being the healing process," said Bility.
Bility was shot in August 2021 as she walked with her mother following a football game at Academy Park High School.
All three officers fired their weapons as the game was letting out in response to gunfire they heard in the vicinity that was unrelated to the football game.
They fired 25 shots at a black Chevy Impala, which they believed was where the shots were coming from.
That vehicle was passing the exiting crowd, which included Bility.
The gunmen who fired the initial shots, Angelo "AJ" Ford and Hasein Strand, were charged with first-degree murder in Bility's death, but the charge was withdrawn and they pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.
Once the sentencing for the three former officers is complete, the family's attorney will move forward with a civil case.
"I want justice to take its course here in Delaware County and then will move forward with the civil case," said attorney Bruce Castor.
The family is also pushing for more training and policy clarifications from Sharon Hill Borough when it comes to police.
"We are still coming to grips with the reality that our beloved Fanta is gone forever," said Bility.
