Police probe fatal shooting of girl at home

Counseling services are being made available today at a West Chester middle school in the wake of a fatal shooting on Friday of a student at her home.

Police from the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Department responded to the 500 block of Coventry Lane in Westtown Township at 3:26 p.m. on Friday for a reporting shooting.

They said a girl had been shot by a juvenile male relative and was pronounced dead at Chester County Hospital a short time later.

Both police and officials in the West Chester Area School District, where both children were students, declined to identify the family.

A letter on the district's website from Charles A. Cognato, principal of G.A. Stetson Middle School, which the victim attended, described her as "well-known" in the school community.

"No further details are being released in order to protect the family's privacy at this most difficult time," the letter said, adding counseling would "continue to be available as needed."

The letter said the district will post funeral and memorial plans when they are scheduled.

Police said the shooting remains under investigation.