Roman Karpunin, 16, was killed in the early morning of November 21, 2020, at a residence on Alex Street in Kearns, Utah. Unified Police were called about a commotion around 1:11 a.m. and found Roman with a single gunshot wound to his upper torso; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said the shooting occurred during horseplay: Roman and an 18-year-old friend, Kaden Christiansen, were role-playing as police officers when Christiansen aimed a handgun at Roman’s back and pulled the trigger. Christiansen told investigators he believed the gun was unloaded. Roman was known to friends as Lil Russian and remembered as kind-hearted and caring.

Christiansen was arrested and charged with manslaughter, obstructing justice, possession of a firearm by a restricted person, drug possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia; prosecutors initially argued he should be held without bail. Does anyone have information about Roman, the night on Alex Street, or items relevant to the investigation?