Dekota Chase Smith was 16 and a student at South Caldwell High School when he died on April 10, 2016. He was active on the wrestling and track teams. Dekota was at his grandparents’ home and on a Skype video chat with a friend while showing the friend a gun; the weapon accidentally discharged and Dekota was killed. The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office ruled the incident an accidental shooting.

Authorities investigated how Dekota obtained access to the firearm and whether negligence or unsafe storage played a role; the sheriff said findings would be forwarded to the district attorney’s office and stressed the importance of securing guns. No charges had been filed. The school and community offered counseling and observed a moment of silence, and his teammates made a memorial banner.