Manslaughter Charges Stick For Delco Cops Accused Of Killing Girl, 8

SHARON HILL, PA — Manslaughter charges were held for the three police officers accused of shooting and killing an 8-year-old Delaware County girl in 2021.

Brian James Devaney, 41, Sean Patrick Dolan, 25, and Devon E. Smith, 34, appeared in a Delaware County court for status conference hearings Monday in Media.

The three have sought to dismiss the manslaughter charges filed against them, with attorneys saying because the prosecution can't prove which bullet the fatal shot came from, the manslaughter charges should be dismissed.

However, a judge Monday held the charges for all three.

The three will appear for another status conference on Oct. 28 on charges of voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, court documents show.

All are free on unsecured bail amounts.

Authorities said the three fired their guns toward Academy Park High School's football field after they heard shots after a game on Aug. 27, 2021, striking and killing Fanta Bility, and injuring four others.

Hasein Strand, 19, and Angelo Ford, 16, are accused of being involved in a shootout with each other.

Their shootout is what authorities said led the officers to open fire, which subsequently led to the shooting death of Bility.

Authorities said they have determined that, beyond reasonable doubt, the three officers' gunfire struck and killed Bility and hurt the others.

The charges were recommended by a grand jury, which investigated the use of force by Devaney, Dolan, and Smith in the incident, which began when authorities said two others fired at each other in the area of the school.

Ford is accused of shooting Strand that night. Strand shot back at Ford and later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for his wounding of a child bystander during the gunfight and illegal possession of a firearm.

Bility's family and supporters with the group U.D.T.J. have rallied for a sharper response from local law enforcement. They claim that a private follow-up investigation has been completed, but that it has not been released to the Bility family or the public.

Meanwhile, they say, Dolan has applied to work at a different Delaware County police department.

"There are growing concerns that the Sharon Hill officers responsible for Fanta’s death will be able to walk," the U.D.T.J. group said in a statement. "Dolan would not have the audacity to submit an application with another police department if he was not confident that he will walk, or that his sentencing will not be as severe."

With reporting by Justin Heinze