Amber Lane, 36, was fatally shot in her Palm Springs home on November 20, 2017. She was active in the local entertainment scene and in fundraising for LGBTQ causes; her death left family, friends, and the community mourning.

Investigators arrested her 19-year-old son, Brian Conroy. Authorities say he entered his mother’s room that night, retrieved a gun from the nightstand, and shot her. Brian was charged with murder and a judge found there was enough evidence for him to stand trial. Testimony at a preliminary hearing described Brian as having paranoia and other mental health struggles and included suggestions he heard voices, though no definitive motive was publicly disclosed.

Bail was set at $2 million and Brian remained in custody. Amber’s friends remembered her as vibrant and deeply involved in community work.