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Father Charged With Shooting, Killing 4-Year-Old Daughter Heads To Trial

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A father charged with the shooting death of his own 4-year old daughter is headed to trial, on Wednesday.

Authorities say Maurice Phillips was carelessly waving a gun around in his Kensington home last April when he shot his daughter in the head.

An initial investigation revealed that Tahirah Phillips was in the front bedroom of the home with her father and her siblings ranging in age from seven months to 13-years-old.

Police say the children were watching television and playing when a single gunshot was heard and Tahirah Phillips fell to the floor with a bullet wound to her head.

After the shooting, officials say the other children were upset and began yelling before Maurice got off of the bed where he was sitting and struck his five-year-old daughter with a closed fist and wiped the blood from his hand onto her shirt.

Phillips will be formally arranged on third degree murder, reckless endangerment and other charges next month.

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