Keair Marquis Reed was 16 when he was fatally shot on September 18, 2024, while at a friend’s house in New Hope, Minnesota. Witnesses say they had been taking pictures and videos with the firearm; about 1:30 p.m. a single shot struck Keair in the eye. He was found unconscious on a couch with the weapon at his feet, taken to hospital on life support, and died of the head wound on September 24, 2024. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide.

Investigators focused on the friend, who initially told 911 that Keair had shot himself; another witness reported seeing that friend holding Keair and crying out immediately after the shot. The friend was charged in juvenile court on assault and illegal weapons counts and prosecutors added second-degree manslaughter after Keair’s death. Keair’s family described him as fun-loving, protective, respectful, and interested in becoming an architect.

Did anyone in the New Hope or Chaska area see the two teenagers together that afternoon or have information about the ghost gun involved?