Rosario Soto Leon was 20 when he died in a west Phoenix motel room on August 11, 2016. He and his girlfriend, Gabriella Hardee, were in a Motel 6 near McDowell Road and 52nd Drive when Hardee was handling a rifle while straddling Leon and the weapon discharged. A single shot struck Leon in the face, killing him instantly.

Phoenix police were called and an investigation followed. Police documents say Hardee had some prior familiarity with firearms, had handled a handgun before, and had seen Leon handle and fire the rifle during the roughly two and a half weeks he owned it. Investigators concluded that because the rifle was typically kept loaded and due to her careless handling, Hardee was responsible for Leon’s death and she was charged with negligent homicide.

Does anyone have information about the incident or knew Rosario or his movements that day?