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Maurice Phillips, Philadelphia Father, Admits To Shooting 4-Year-Old Girl

Maurice "Stephon" Phillips has been charged with third-degree murder.

A Philadelphia father has been charged with third-degree murder after he confessed to shooting his daughter by accident.

Maurice Phillips, 30, admitted to shooting four-year-old Tahirah Saturday, police told WPVI.

"It was a stupid, idiotic act. He was completely reckless in doing this and, unfortunately, a four-year-old lost her life," said Capt. James Clark of the Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit.

People at the home initially told police the girl's five-year-old sibling had accidentally shot in her in the head while playing with a gun, according to Philly.com, but Phillips later turned himself in Saturday evening to say he did it.

Phillips fled the home after the shooting, according to police, which they believe happened in a bedroom where Tahirah and her six siblings were playing and watching TV.

After the gun accidentally went off, police say Phillips hit Tahirah's five-year-old sister and wiped blood on her shirt.

He hit the girl, police told WPVI, to make it look like she was being punished.

He then put Tahirah into another bedroom and called his fiancé. Once she came home, he changed clothes and fled.

He faces charges of third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of children, possession of an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person.

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