Ciara Meyer, 12, shot dead by police after her father allegedly threatened them with a rifle

The unfortunate girl had a total asshole of a father. Just the fact that the police were there to evict him shows how irresponsible he was.  He had presumably stopped paying his rent or was abusing the property.  And pointing a gun at a cop is the ultimate stupidity

CIARA Meyer died where she fell - in the doorway of her family’s home. The 12-year-old girl had been standing there, in a place she was supposed to be safe.

Her father Donald Meyer, 57, answered the door of the apartment, near Duncannon in Pennsylvania, when a police officer arrived to serve an eviction notice on the family on Monday.

Meyer allegedly had a rifle in his hand, and pointed it at the officer’s chest — the officer instinctively drew his own weapon and fired.

The bullet went through the father’s arm and struck his daughter. She was pronounced dead at the scene, her injuries so devastating she couldn’t survive, The Washington Post reported.

It was purely a twist of fate that Ciara was even there at the time. She was supposed to be at school but had been unwell and stayed home. The girl’s mother wasn’t at the scene.

A neighbour, who knew Ciara well, heard the shot. But it wasn’t until later she discovered who the victim was.  “I burst into tears,” she told WHTM-TV. “I can’t understand it; it’s horrible.”

The neighbour said her daughter was friends with the girl and she couldn’t face telling her what had happened.

“She’s not going to handle it very well,” she told WHTM. “It’s horrible. How do you tell a little girl that something like this happened? How do you explain that? I’m an adult, and I don’t understand it.”

Another neighbour told an ABC affiliate of their shock at the loss of a “very kind, sweet kid”.

“Here’s a little girl that doesn’t even have a chance to grow up and live her life.  “It’s horrible, absolutely heartbreaking.”

Police moved quickly to explain what happened. There have been 22 fatalities linked with police shootings this year alone, some of which could lead to criminal charges being laid against officers.

Constable Bill Stoeffler, a spokesman with the local police union, alleged Meyer initially opened the door, spoke briefly to the officer, then closed it.

It was when Meyer opened the door a second time he allegedly raised a rifle that was slung across his body, pointing it at the officer, who has been named as Constable Clarke Steel.

“The constable had no place to retreat to,” Constable Stoeffler told the Post. “He had to respond immediately.”

Stoeffler said Steele “managed to get his gun out and fire one round.” Then, he took cover and called for backup.

It was then police discovered Ciara was dead.  The officer is said to be “devastated”.  “He’s absolutely heartbroken over the outcome of this,” Stoeffler told the Post.

Stoeffler said Steele has not been charged with a crime but has suspended his work voluntarily during the routine police investigation.

Pennlive reported a rifle was found with a loaded chamber and a magazine containing 30 rounds.

Donald Meyer was treated in hospital for his injuries and has been charged with assault, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and terroristic threats, according to court records.

He is being held in custody and will appear in court tomorrow.

Original report here


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