Premila Lal, 18, died after being shot during what family and friends described as a prank in Longmont, Colorado. On a September evening, Premila and her 12-year-old cousin entered a house the family had recently moved from intending to hide in a closet and surprise Premila’s 15-year-old brother and a family friend, 21-year-old Nerrek Galley. Movements in the dimly lit house were misinterpreted as an intruder. Galley armed himself, investigated, and when Premila jumped from the closet he fired a single shot. Premila was taken to hospital and pronounced dead shortly after arrival; the Boulder County Coroner’s Office later ruled the death a homicide.

Authorities arrested Nerrek Galley on charges of child abuse and reckless endangerment for providing a handgun to Premila’s underage brother; the shooting itself was described in reporting as a tragic accident. Premila’s family publicly forgave Galley and said they did not want another family to lose a son over the incident. If anyone was at that house that night or has information about what happened, please share what is known.