Teen Sentenced for Shooting That Led to Girl’s Death by Police Gunfire

A Pennsylvania teen was sentenced on Friday on charge related to a shooting that led to the death of a girl by police gunfire.
On Friday, Angelo Ford, who was just 15 at the time of a gun battle outside a high school football game that resulted in the death of an 8-year-old girl, was sentenced to 14 to 28 years in prison.
Angelo Ford, 19, was sentenced in Delaware County on multiple charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault, related to a 2021 shooting in Sharon Hill that claimed the life of 8-year-old Fanta Bility.
Prosecutors said Ford was involved in an argument with a group of males after an Academy Park High School football game in August 2021. The dispute escalated when Ford pulled out a handgun and exchanged fire with a 21-year-old man about a block from the stadium, firing five shots as the other man returned fire twice, according to authorities.
According to authorities, two shots were fired toward three Sharon Hill police officers, who were monitoring the crowd as it exited the game. The officers responded by shooting at a car they believed was involved in the incident. One of their bullets struck 8-year-old Fanta Bility, who was leaving the game with her family.
Deputy District Attorney Laurie Moore said, “There is no loss of life that night if AJ Ford doesn’t bring a gun.”
“Fanta would still be here. She’d be 11 years old,” Moore added.
Prosecutors pushed for a sentence of 32 to 67 years, citing the profound trauma inflicted on the child’s family and the community. They also noted that Ford showed no remorse, escaping from a juvenile facility after his arrest and evading law enforcement for over a year. During that time, he posted Instagram videos taunting authorities and brandishing firearms, officials said.
The second individual involved in the shooting received a prison sentence of 32 to 64 months. The three officers who returned fire were terminated from their positions and later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges. Last year, they were sentenced to five years of probation with the first 11 months served under house arrest.
Response to Angelo Ford’s Sentencing
Defense attorney Mary Beth Welch argued for leniency in Ford’s sentencing, seeking a punishment comparable to that of the other individual involved in the shooting. Welch highlighted Ford’s traumatic childhood, struggles with behavioral disorders and learning disabilities, as well as his susceptibility to the influence of a street gang.
“You don’t need to punish him anymore,” Welch said. “A long sentence will break him, and these charges will be a life sentence. He needs an opportunity to start over.”
Judge G. Michael Green stated Friday that while he was not holding Ford directly responsible for the child’s death, the defendant had “played a significant role” by opening fire on a crowded street. Ford’s sentence also encompassed additional charges, including assault, terroristic threats and weapons offenses, stemming from incidents that occurred during his time in the county jail.
Green expressed belief in Ford’s potential for rehabilitation, calling his statement in court a “tremendous beginning.” However, he emphasized that the severity of Ford’s actions, both during the shooting outside the stadium and afterward, justified a substantial prison term. Ford was credited for approximately two years already served.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.