Sixteen-year-old Xavion ’Punkin’ DemonTrae Bell, a student at Todd County Central High School in Guthrie, Kentucky, was shot in the head on December 31, 2022, and later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. He enjoyed sports, especially football, fishing, music and time with friends; his death deeply affected his family and the small community.

Police say the shooting occurred on Locust Street while Bell was in a room with 18-year-old William O’Bryan and another juvenile. Authorities report O’Bryan pointed an AR-15 at Bell and pulled the trigger; a witness said O’Bryan did not believe the weapon was loaded. Other accounts differ, with one version describing a demonstration of how O’Bryan would react to an intruder and another saying both young men had their hands on the rifle when it discharged. Alcohol and marijuana were reported as factors.

Guthrie police allege O’Bryan tried to alter the scene by removing a shell casing and placing a handgun near Bell. O’Bryan was arrested and charged with tampering with physical evidence and second-degree manslaughter; he pleaded not guilty and was later indicted by a Todd County grand jury on second-degree manslaughter. Does anyone have information about that night or the people involved?