PHILADELPHIA — A parent alleges her minor daughter suffered injuries after Borough of Sharon Hill police officers fired shots into a crowd at a high school football game.
B.A., individually and as parent and natural guardian of A.E.-A, a minor, filed a complaint May 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Borough of Sharon Hill, Chief Richard Herron, Officer Brian Devaney, Officer Sean Dolan and Officer Devon Smith alleging excessive force, assault and battery and other claims.
According to the plaintiff's complaint, the minor plaintiff was with others who were attending a football game at Academy Park High School in Sharon Hill on Aug. 27, 2021. They claim as the game ended, two gunshots came from a nearby area which caused the defendant officers to mistakenly discharge their service weapons in the direction of the football field and into the crowd.
The plaintiffs allege that the minor plaintiff was struck by a bullet fired by the officers and suffered shattered bones in her lower extremity. They further allege the force used by the defendant officers was excessive and that the Borough of Sharon Hill and its police chief Herron failed in their training and discipline of officers.
The plaintiffs claim that the defendants' actions violated the minor plaintiff's Fourteenth Amendment rights and caused her not only physical, but emotional, developmental, psychological and financial damages. They also claim the defendant officers assaulted and battered the minor plaintiff by pointing their guns in her direction.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief of more than $150,000, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Michael Schafle of Green & Schafle LLC in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:22-CV-02026-HB