A Tennessee teenager was shot and killed, just one day after her high school graduation, allegedly by another teen who says he thought he was holding an unloaded rifle.
Matthew Roufail, 18, was arrested in Franklin, Tenn., and charged with criminal homicide in the shooting death of Lily Basil. The young woman sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder, according to witnesses who attempted to drive her to the hospital.
The witnesses were told to stop driving and wait for emergency medical services. An ambulance met the car on the side of the road and transported Basil to the hospital, where she later died.
One witness alleged that he saw a man, possibly named Matthew, aim a .22 caliber rifle at Basil. The rifle was in the trunk of the witness' car, at the scene, according to WZTV.
During police questioning, Roufail allegedly told officers that he did shoot Basil, but added that he thought the rifle was unloaded.
Basil's alma mater — Page High School — released a statement mourning the loss of the recent graduate.
"The Page High family mourns the loss of 2024 graduate Lily Basil. Lily was a light; she was kind, sweet and extremely respectful. Her smile lit up every room she entered," wrote Principal Dr. Katie Hill, according to WSMV.
"Though she was newer to the Page community, she quickly embraced the Patriot spirit and was a friend to everyone she met. Page faculty, staff and students will dearly miss Lily, and we are committed to honoring her memory by sharing her light."
