PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Police say the parent of a 4-year-old girl killed in Philadelphia has confessed to accidentally shooting her.
Authorities originally believed the child was shot by her young brother.
“She was full of life,” Crystal Dougherty, a family friend, told NBC Philadelphia as she wept near the scene of the shooting. “She was always willing to help. She was a great big sister to her little brother.”
Investigators said the girl was shot in the face by her father or stepfather in a home in the Kensington neighborhood shortly before 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Emergency medical personnel pronounced her dead at the scene.
Police previously said the girl was shot by her 5-year-old sibling and were searching for the child’s father or stepfather, who was believed to have owned the gun used.
But Sgt. Eric Gripp said Sunday the man turned himself in Saturday night and ultimately admitted to shooting the victim.
Gripp said the parent “stated that the sibling had nothing to do with it.” His identity has not been released.WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON RIGHT NOW:
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