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| Father Tried to Blame 5-Year-Old in Killing of 4-Year-Old, Police Say | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Goofing around at his home over the weekend in Philadelphia, Maurice Phillips committed an act of unimaginable carelessness with a gun, police officials said, accidentally killing his 4-year-old daughter with a shot to the head. | Goofing around at his home over the weekend in Philadelphia, Maurice Phillips committed an act of unimaginable carelessness with a gun, police officials said, accidentally killing his 4-year-old daughter with a shot to the head. |
| Mr. Phillips’s reaction then set in motion a series of events that led to wild confusion, a desperate search and widespread news reports that the girl had been killed by her 5-year-old sibling. | Mr. Phillips’s reaction then set in motion a series of events that led to wild confusion, a desperate search and widespread news reports that the girl had been killed by her 5-year-old sibling. |
| The shooting unfolded Saturday afternoon at a home that Mr. Phillips, 30, shared with his fiancée and seven children, the police said. His daughter, Tahirah Phillips, had been watching television and playing with her siblings when her father entered the room and started waving a gun around like a toy, according to his eventual confession. | The shooting unfolded Saturday afternoon at a home that Mr. Phillips, 30, shared with his fiancée and seven children, the police said. His daughter, Tahirah Phillips, had been watching television and playing with her siblings when her father entered the room and started waving a gun around like a toy, according to his eventual confession. |
| “During this time, the gun discharged one time, striking his daughter in the back of the head, killing her instantly,” said Capt. James Clark of the Philadelphia Police Department during a news conference on Monday. | “During this time, the gun discharged one time, striking his daughter in the back of the head, killing her instantly,” said Capt. James Clark of the Philadelphia Police Department during a news conference on Monday. |
| “It was a stupid, idiotic act,” he added. | “It was a stupid, idiotic act,” he added. |
| The other children screamed and at some point, a 911 call was placed. But rather than wait, the police said, Mr. Phillips walked over to his 5-year-old daughter, struck her with a closed fist and wiped blood from his hand onto her shirt. | The other children screamed and at some point, a 911 call was placed. But rather than wait, the police said, Mr. Phillips walked over to his 5-year-old daughter, struck her with a closed fist and wiped blood from his hand onto her shirt. |
| The police have depicted those actions as a bid to frame the child. | The police have depicted those actions as a bid to frame the child. |
| “He went as far as to punish the 5-year-old to show how much he felt that she did this,” Captain Clark told The Associated Press. | “He went as far as to punish the 5-year-old to show how much he felt that she did this,” Captain Clark told The Associated Press. |
| Mr. Phillips then called his fiancée, Tera Riddick, who arrived to find Tahirah lying dead in a rear bedroom, the police said. He then changed his clothes and fled. | Mr. Phillips then called his fiancée, Tera Riddick, who arrived to find Tahirah lying dead in a rear bedroom, the police said. He then changed his clothes and fled. |
| The apparent deflection seemed to work, for a time. | The apparent deflection seemed to work, for a time. |
| Law enforcement sources told reporters on Saturday that the 5-year-old sibling was likely holding the gun when it went off. News organizations ran with that account in television broadcasts and articles that received widespread attention. | Law enforcement sources told reporters on Saturday that the 5-year-old sibling was likely holding the gun when it went off. News organizations ran with that account in television broadcasts and articles that received widespread attention. |
| As family, friends and neighbors were absorbing the tragedy, the police were also engaged in an intense search for the father. At the time, Captain Clark told The Philadelphia Inquirer, “We desperately need to find the father, who for whatever reason fled the scene.” | As family, friends and neighbors were absorbing the tragedy, the police were also engaged in an intense search for the father. At the time, Captain Clark told The Philadelphia Inquirer, “We desperately need to find the father, who for whatever reason fled the scene.” |
| Several hours after the shooting, Mr. Phillips turned himself in. | Several hours after the shooting, Mr. Phillips turned himself in. |
| “He just showed up,” said Officer Tanya Little, a police spokeswoman. “He obviously knew that we would be after him.” | “He just showed up,” said Officer Tanya Little, a police spokeswoman. “He obviously knew that we would be after him.” |
| Speaking to investigators, Mr. Phillips denied responsibility at first, the police said, but he eventually confessed. The police said a gun was located at the house. | Speaking to investigators, Mr. Phillips denied responsibility at first, the police said, but he eventually confessed. The police said a gun was located at the house. |
| Mr. Phillips was charged on Monday with third-degree homicide, reckless endangerment and related counts. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 4. | Mr. Phillips was charged on Monday with third-degree homicide, reckless endangerment and related counts. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 4. |
| On Monday evening, a small group held a vigil outside the family’s home on a rundown block of rowhouses in East Kensington. Candles and colorful stuffed animals were placed beneath a window, and pink and white balloons were released into a cloudless sky. | On Monday evening, a small group held a vigil outside the family’s home on a rundown block of rowhouses in East Kensington. Candles and colorful stuffed animals were placed beneath a window, and pink and white balloons were released into a cloudless sky. |
| The girl’s mother, Ms. Riddick, is emotionally broken, a close friend, Sheena Coles, said on Tuesday. | The girl’s mother, Ms. Riddick, is emotionally broken, a close friend, Sheena Coles, said on Tuesday. |
| “Tahirah was a sweet little girl,” Ms. Coles said, “an innocent, beautiful little girl.” | “Tahirah was a sweet little girl,” Ms. Coles said, “an innocent, beautiful little girl.” |