Police: Parent Confesses To Accidentally Shooting 4-Year-Old Girl Inside Kensington Home
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police say the parent of a 4-year-old girl who was killed inside a home in the Kensington section of the city has confessed to accidentally shooting her.
It happened around 2:30 p.m. Saturday inside a home along the 200 block of East Mayfield Street.
Investigators say the man, who was either the girl's father or stepfather, told them he was playing with a gun when it went off and struck the girl in the face. She died inside the home.
Police originally said it appeared that the girl had been fatally shot by her 5-year-old sibling and that they were searching for the child's father or stepfather, who was believed to have owned the gun used.
But authorities say the man, who was not immediately identified, turned himself in Saturday night and admitted he was responsible for shooting the girl.
"After an investigation, (he) admitted to accidentally shooting the victim, and stated that the sibling had nothing to do with it," Sgt. Eric Gripp said Sunday.
Crystal Dougherty, a friend of the victim's family, says the girl was well-liked in the neighborhood.
"She was a great big sister to her litter brother. She was very smart, at 4-years-old, she knows her alphabet, her colors," Dougherty said. "She was just an outgoing little girl."
Police say charges are pending.
