Jayla Riggs was 15 when she died from a single gunshot wound to the head on December 30, 2017, at her home in Hillsboro, Texas. Jayla was taken to Hill Regional Hospital and pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The Hillsboro Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigative Division led the probe, interviewing witnesses who were present and several people who left the scene before first responders arrived. Investigators gathered evidence that they said supported the shooting being accidental; the 17-year-old cooperated and reiterated his claim of not knowing the gun was loaded. Officials indicated charges were expected while the District Attorney’s Office reviewed the evidence.

Jayla was the youngest of four children raised by a single mother and was remembered for her love of singing and dancing. The Hillsboro Independent School District provided counselors after the death, and a family GoFundMe was created to help with funeral expenses. Does anyone have information about the night of December 30, 2017, or about gun storage practices in that household that could help clarify what happened?