PHILADELPHIA — Authorities allege that a Philadelphia father was "carelessly and recklessly" waving a gun around a bedroom with seven children present when it went off, killing his 4-year-old daughter.
Thirty-year-old Maurice Phillips is charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment and reckless endangerment in Saturday's death of 4-year-old Tahirah Phillips.
Homicide division Capt. James Clark said Monday that the girl and her six siblings were watching television when Phillips came in and started waving the weapon around. It discharged and hit the girl in the back of the head.
Police allege that Phillips then struck his 5-year-old daughter and wiped blood onto her shirt in an apparent effort to shift blame. Police previously believed the girl's 5-year-old sibling was the shooter. Phillips fled but later surrendered and ultimately confessed.