A teenage girl who had just graduated high school was accidentally shot and killed by a fellow 18-year-old after the shooter believed his AR-15 style rifle to have been unloaded.
Lily Basil had just graduated from Page High School in Franklin, Tennessee when she was killed by 18-year-old Matthew Roufail who admitted to the shooting.
Roufail was charged with criminal homicide with his bond was set at $150,000.
Roufail told police that he shot Basil with a .22 caliber rifle, but that it wasn’t intentional. The gun was retrieved from the trunk of a vehicle where both Basil and Roufail had gathered.
The tragedy happened on Saturday. Following the shooting, Basil was rushed to hospital with a gunshot wound to her right shoulder.
She was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.
The high school where she attended is now holding grief counseling sessions for students.
‘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,’ Page High School principal Dr. Katie Hill wrote in a statement.
‘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.’
School leaders said the community plans to honor the teen by lighting a candle or by turning on a porch light on Friday evening.
Community members, like Lisa Welsh is already planning to participate.
‘We’re honoring her and just the light she had within herself and what she could’ve shared with the rest of the world. Also, her family and friends that have been snuffed out,’ Welsh said to Newschannel5.
Friends paid tribute to their friend on social media.
‘Lily, thank you for becoming one of our best friends in these past two years. we are honored that we got to know you, you have brought us so many laughs and memories we’ll cherish forever. you are deeply loved and missed, fly high pookie,’ wrote Sophia Debruler.
‘My love for you Lily will always be dear to my heart. Beautiful memories were made to last a lifetime,’ added Dena Sherman-Truhn.