Teen sentenced in shooting that led to Fanta Bility’s death – NBC10 Philadelphia

A teenager has been found guilty of inciting a shooting that resulted in the death of an 8-year-old girl who was killed by gunfire from responding police officers during a high school football game in Delaware County.

A judge found 18-year-old Angelo “AJ” Ford guilty of attempted murder and aggravated assault on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Investigators said Ford was involved in a fight with members of a rival youth gang outside a high school football game in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, on August 27, 2021. During the fight, Ford, then 15, pulled out a gun and opened fire.

Sharon Hill police officers responded to the shooting, drew their own weapons and fired at a moving car they mistakenly believed to be involved in the initial shooting. At least one of those officers’ bullets then struck 8-year-old Fanta Bility, who died in her mother’s arms.

Although Ford was not charged in Bility’s death, prosecutors concluded that the girl would be alive today if the teenager had not acted as she did. The judge also concluded that Ford’s use of the firearm was unjustified and not in self-defense.

“My reaction is the same as it always is when a young man is convicted of a violent crime: This is a sad day,” said Tanner Rouse, Delaware County’s assistant district attorney. “It’s a necessary day, but it’s a sad day, and in this case, unfortunately, it’s the culmination of many sad days.”

The three former police officers involved in the shooting – Brian Devaney, Devon Smith and Sean Dolan – pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment as part of a settlement. In return, prosecutors dropped the first-degree and involuntary manslaughter charges against them. All three are serving probation.

“The police killed the little girl,” Kalimah Cunningham, Ford’s godmother, told NBC10. “They’re all home.”

Cunningham said she was “devastated” by Tuesday’s verdict.

“When they say the incident happened, he was only 15 years old,” she said. “You want to ruin a child’s whole life because of one mistake? That’s ridiculous. That’s horrible.”

Bility’s family – who agreed to $11 million in compensation for the girl’s death – was not present at Ford’s sentencing.

“I really hope that Fanta’s family can now have closure with the case,” said Rouse. “That this part of the case is resolved for them.”

The other suspect in the shooting, 21-year-old Hasein Strand, pleaded guilty in 2022 to aggravated assault and carrying firearms without a permit.

Ford’s sentencing is scheduled for September 2024. His public defender told NBC10 that they would wait until then before deciding whether or not to appeal.