Ashton Laatz was an 18-year-old from Montgomery, Illinois, who died on December 22, 2022. A recent high school graduate from Oswego, he played rugby and enjoyed fishing with his father and friends. His death devastated family and friends.

According to reports, Ashton was driving near Circle Drive East in Montgomery when he picked up two juvenile males. An 18-year-old front-seat passenger, Brian Bell Jr., allegedly attempted to rob Ashton at gunpoint during what appeared to be a drug deal. A struggle in the front seat resulted in a gun discharging and striking Ashton in the thigh. Ashton crashed the vehicle a few blocks later and was taken to hospital, where he died of the wound.

Deputies later located the two juveniles at a house on Seneca Drive and recovered a handgun; one person who fled the scene was later named in connection with the incident. What details can anyone add about Ashton’s last hours or those who were with him that evening?