Group of teens handling gun led to fatal shooting of 14-year-old
Police say a group of teens found a firearm in the house, and a single shot was fired during a gathering
A Pennsylvania teenager has been charged with third-degree murder after a 14-year-old girl was killed in an accidental shooting inside a home in Upper Darby on Thursday, May 14.
Upper Darby Police Department (UDPD) officers responded to a 911 call reporting a person with a gunshot wound at a residence on the 100 block of Springton Road.
When officers arrived, they found the victim suffering from a single gunshot wound. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Following an investigation, police said a 14-year-old boy has been charged as an adult with third-degree murder in connection with the incident.
According to Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt, the victim was with a small group of friends, two boys and two girls, inside the home when the shooting occurred.
Investigators believe the group accessed a handgun that was kept in the house and began handling it inside an upstairs bedroom when it discharged.
“What we do know is that it wasn't like this was an act of violence, it wasn't like this was a fight, it wasn't a dispute,” Bernhardt told 6 ABC, describing the incident as an accident that escalated with tragic consequences.
Police said a single bullet was fired, striking the victim in the head.
A criminal complaint cited by local outlets indicates the teen suspect told investigators he knew the victim’s mother kept a handgun in her bedroom closet. The group allegedly retrieved the weapon while the mother was at work.
A witness reportedly told police she heard the boy say, “Oh, my God, I just killed her!” immediately after the shot was fired.
Neighbors described the incident as a devastating loss for the family and the wider community.
“Terrible tragedy to get a call when you are at work about your daughter,” one neighbor said. “It's crazy. Never want that to happen to anyone.”
Another neighbor said the community was shaken by the incident, adding that “any time a young person loses their life, it's a sad occasion.”
Police have since emphasized the importance of safely securing firearms in homes.
“There’s no redo when it comes to guns,” Superintendent Bernhardt said. “A bad decision, a careless moment has forever changed the lives of our victim's family, those three other juveniles that were there, their families and our entire community.”
