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DUNCANNON, Pa. (AP) — The latest in the killing of a 12-year-old by a constable serving eviction papers to her father (all times are local):
4:15 p.m.
Members of the family of a 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl accidentally shot by a constable serving eviction papers to his father say they don't blame the officer for her death.
Ron Rohde (ROH'-dee) said Wednesday no one in the family has "any hard feelings" toward the constable. Rohde is related to the girl through his wife's family.
State police say 57-year-old Donald Meyer pointed a loaded rifle at Constable Clark Steele on Monday and Steele fired a single shot in return. The bullet went through Meyer's arm and struck Ciara Meyer in the chest, killing her.
Rohde says two different county child protection agencies had been involved with the family and that at one point the girl had been removed from their home for several months.
One of the girl's aunts, Stephanie Cordas, says the family believes the father's actions were wrong.
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3 p.m.
An autopsy shows a 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl died from a gunshot wound to the chest during a confrontation between her father and a constable serving eviction papers.
State police say 57-year-old Donald Meyer pointed a loaded rifle at the constable Monday and the constable fired a single shot in return. The bullet traveled through Meyer's arm and struck Ciara Meyer, who was standing behind him.
Meyer has been charged with aggravated assault and other counts.
A spokesman for area constables said the constable involved is distraught and the girl was "absolutely not" intentionally shot.
Prosecutors are investigating the shooting. They say they don't want to rush to any conclusions.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay the girl's funeral expenses and to fund a scholarship.
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9:10 a.m.
An autopsy has been set on a 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl who state police believe was accidentally shot by a constable serving her father with an eviction notice.
Police say Ciara (SEE'-ahr-ah) Meyer was home sick when she was shot by Constable Clark Steele at her apartment near Duncannon about 10 a.m. Monday.
Bill Stoeffler, a Dauphin County constable who speaks for others in the area, says Meyer is distraught and says it was "absolutely not intentional" that the girl was shot.
The girl's father, 57-year-old Donald Meyer, has been charged with aggravated assault and other crimes for allegedly pointing a loaded rifle at the constable. That's when police say Steele returned fire — the bullet traveling through Meyer's arm and striking his daughter.
The autopsy is Wednesday. The Perry County district attorney is reviewing the shooting.
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