Mikael Ashame was 19 when he was fatally shot in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on October 24, 2015. Friends and family remember him as responsible and caring, helping his single mother raise his younger brother, graduating high school early and attending Southeast Technical Institute. The shooting occurred during an apartment gathering where alcohol and marijuana were present.

According to reports, an AK-47-style rifle was being handled when it accidentally discharged. A single round struck Mikael in the leg, severing a major artery; he died within minutes. Immediate 911 calls contained conflicting accounts, including suggestions of suicide and a masked intruder. Some people at the scene fled with firearms while others stayed to try to help.

Police arrested 21-year-old David Randle, Jr., who was charged with alternate counts of manslaughter, and 19-year-old Mason Mitzel, the rifle’s owner. Mitzel fled after the shooting and was later taken into custody following a standoff; a search of his car reportedly turned up marijuana and hash oil and led to felony drug charges. The investigation described the death as a tragic accident involving drugs and alcohol.

Does anyone who was there or knew Mikael have details that could clarify what happened that night?