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The incident reportedly began with gunshots in the 900 block of Coates Street. That gunfire included a shot in the direction of three Sharon Hill police officers monitoring the crowd exiting the Academy Park High School football stadium, which struck and injured a civilian, DA Jack Stollsteimer said in a statement released Thursday afternoon.
In response to the gunfire, the officers discharged their guns.
"There is a high probability that the responsive gunfire of the Sharon Hill Police Officers struck four victims, including the shots that killed 8-year-old Fanta Bility and wounded her 12-year-old sister," Stollsteimer said.
"Our investigation is still in its early stages and we have a lot more work to do. I am asking again for the community’s help in identifying all the individuals involved in the altercation and the gunfire on Coates Street that led to this tragedy."
"My staff and I grieve for the Bility family, who I met with again this morning, as well as the other victims. My promise to them and to the Sharon Hill community is that we will continue this investigation for as long as it takes until every question is answered and justice is done," he added.
Over $16,800 was raised on a GoFundMe campaign for Bility's family as of Thursday afternoon.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged contact to County Detective Timothy Deery at 610-891-8030.
NOTE: The DA's office sites Bility's age as 8, but GoFundMe organizer Siddiq Mohamed says she was 7.
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