Girl, 12, accidentally shot dead by cop during eviction confrontation

DUNCANNON, Pa. — A police officer accidentally shot and killed a 12-year-old girl after a bullet went through her father's arm and struck her on Monday, according to authorities. 

Police said the girl was standing behind her father when a uniformed state constable arrived at their apartment in Penn Township to serve an eviction order. According to authorities, the girl's father, Donald Meyer, 57, pointed a rifle at Constable Clarke Steele.

Steel drew his .40 caliber weapon and fired once, but the bullet went through the suspect's arm and killed the girl, who was standing behind her father.

Fifty-seven-year-old Meyer was flown to Hershey Medical Center for treatment. He is charged with aggravated and simple assault, terroristic threats, and reckless endangering.

The family knew the eviction notice was coming, Pennsylvania state trooper Rob Hicks told WPMT-TV.

“When they heard the knock, they knew who it was,” Hicks told the station. “The family had received multiple notifications. They in fact knew from their last notification that the constable would be arriving at their house.”

A GoFundMe account was created to raise funds for 12-year-old Ciara Meyer's funeral and fund anti-domestic violence programs. As of Wednesday, there were $1,800 in donations.

According to the site, Ciara was a "loving vibrant 12-year-old whose life was cut short far too early."

"This was a terrible ending to a horrific series of events that could have been prevented," the page said. "Her family and friends will miss her."