Child Hit With Firecracker, Now Recovering

A 5-year-old girl is recovering after being hit with a firecracker at on July 4.

activities were wrapping up when responded to the playground at 10 p.m. for a report that a child had been hit when a group of teenagers began throwing firecrackers.

The child is a special needs student. Officer Don Kelly said the child sustained no physical injuries, but that she is prone to seizures and suffered three of them following the incident.

Kelly said that when police arrived on scene, the group of teenage boys was trying to leave the park. The boys ignored several commands from police to stop, and officers had to chase them down.

The victim’s mother and two other witnesses identified the teens as the ones who had been throwing firecrackers near the playground—one of which reportedly hit the girl when it exploded.

Justin Filmore, 18, of Brookline, was cited for disorderly conduct. A 16-year-old from Castle Shannon, a 17-year-old from Beechview, as well as two more teens, ages 16 and 17, from Brookline also were cited for disorderly conduct.

The teens were taken to the Dormont police station, where they were released to their parents.

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