Gunfire broke out at a high school football game in a Pennsylvania town on August 27, 2021. It was a gunfight between two teens.
Three officers patrolling the stadium returned fire when a couple of the rounds came in their direction. Rather randomly, it seems; they “discharged their weapons in the direction of the football field,” ABC News reported here. How stupid was that?
Later forensic investigation determined the officers’ bullets killed an 8-year-old girl, wounded her sister, and injured two others.
The teens were charged with murder, but pleaded to reduced charges, and the 18-year-old got 32 to 64 months in prison; the 16-year-old apparently will be prosecuted as a juvenile.
As for the cops who couldn’t shoot straight, they’ve been indicted on manslaughter and reckless endangerment charges. Their lawyers say it was a “tragic accident.” No, it was a stupid accident, and there are penalties for that. This is why police agencies have shooting ranges and taxpayers pay for practice ammunition. When cops use their firearms, they’re expected to hit what they’re shooting at, not spray bullets into a crowd.