Girl shot by brother was a 6th grader

The young victim of a fatal shooting on Friday by her older brother has been identified by school officials.

The West Chester Area School District web site has posted memorial service information for Katherine "Katie" Jane Kolinger Urban, 11, a sixth-grader at G.A. Stetson Middle School.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at Danjolell Memorial Home of Broomall, 2811 West Chester Pike, Broomall; a memorial service will be on Friday at 11 a.m. at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, 727 Harvard Avenue, Swarthmore, according to the web site.

The incident remains under investigation, authorities said Monday.

"It appears to be a tragic accident, but the investigation is continuing," said Chester County District Attorney Joseph W. Carroll.

Police from the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Department responded to the 500 block of Coventry Lane in Westtown Township at 3:26 p.m. Friday for a reported shooting. They said a girl had been shot by a male relative and was pronounced dead at Chester County Hospital a short time later.

A letter posted Monday on the district's website from Charles A. Cognato, principal of G.A. Stetson Middle School, described Katie Urban 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.

A representative of the county coroner's office said Monday that an autopsy was performed Saturday, but that no results were yet available.

Robert Partridge, a school district spokesman, said staff meetings with the superintendent were conducted Monday at Stetson and Sarah Starkweather, Katie Urban's elementary school.

First Assistant District Attorney Patrick Carmody said he knew the family, would not be handling the case, and had limited comment.

"I will say this is a horrific tragedy for this entire family and the community," he said.

Contact staff writer Kathleen Brady Shea at 610-696-3815 or kbrady@phillynews.com.