New details in case of man charged in 4-year-old daughter’s shooting

A man has been charged after confessing to killing his 4-year-old daughter in a North Philly home Saturday while he was playing with his gun.

The young child, identified as Tahirah Phillips, was shot in the face around 2:25 p.m. in the 200 block of East Mayfield Street near B Street, according to police.She was pronounced dead by medics at 2:27 p.m.

Maurice “Stephon” Phillips, 30, who has a picture of a gun and a box of hollow-point bullets as his cover photo on Facebook, is charged with third-degree murder for the shooting.

Police released a grim narrative of how the shooting took place inside the home, where Tahirah and six other children lived, ages 13, 10, 5, 3, 1 and 7 months.

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“The children were watching television and playing in the room when a single gunshot was heard, and Tahirah Phillips fell to the floor with a bullet wound to her head.The other children became upset and began yelling,” the police report stated.

“Maurice Phillips then got off the bed where he was sitting and struck his 5-year-old daughter with a closed fist then wiped the blood from his hand onto her shirt.He then picked up Tahirah and carried her into the rear bedroom; called his fiancé, and told her to come home.When she arrived he followed her to the bedroom where Tahirah was lying. Maurice Phillips then changed clothes and fled the residence,” the report continued.

Police initially reported a 5-year-old sibling in the house may have accidentally killed the girl while playing with the gun.

Phillips turned himself in on Sunday morning.

“Maurice initially denied responsibility; however, he later told investigators what occurred,” the police report stated.