12-year-old girl fatally shot by police in Pennsylvania

State police and the local prosecutors office are investigating the shooting

Ciara, 12, was shot dead by police during an eviction (Facebook/Justice for Ciara Meyer)

A 12-year-old girl was fatally shot by police in Pennsylvania when an officer served an eviction warrant to her family.

Ciara Meyer was accidentally killed in her home on Monday after Constable Clarke Steele fired a single shot at her father Donald Meyer, 57, who was allegedly armed with a rifle, Pennsylvania State Police said according to Penn Live.

The bullet passed through Mr Meyer's arm, striking Ciara, and the young girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Meyer has been charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person in magisterial district court. He's scheduled to face a preliminary hearing on January 15.

State police and the local prosecutors said that they are also determining whether or not to file charges against Constable Steele.

A neighbor and friend of the Meyer's family said she was heartbroken by the incident.

“Very kind, sweet kid,” she told ABC 27 News. “Here’s a little girl that doesn’t even have a chance to grow up and live her life, and all because of this senseless act. It’s horrible, absolutely heartbreaking.”

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been created to remember Ciara's life. All funds raised will be contributed to the funeral and a domestic violence and mental illness scholarship created by the Susquenita School District.

Ciara was the 21st person killed by police in the US just 13 days into 2016, according to the Guardian.