A gathering of teenagers in Wichita turned fatal in the early morning hours of December 17, 2016, when 16-year-old Nautica Whittiker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound that police later deemed accidental. The shooting occurred in the basement of a house in the 1300 block of North Erie while Nautica was visiting with friends; officers found her deceased after responding to a 911 call around 2:15 a.m.

Six people were in the basement at the time: four teenagers, an 18-year-old, and a man in his 30s, with additional adults upstairs. Investigators say the shotgun involved belonged to someone who lived in the house and that the group had been playing with the firearm when it discharged. After witness interviews and an examination of the scene, authorities concluded the shooting was unintentional and announced no charges would be filed, while still looking into whether the gun was lawfully owned.