Luka Wade Rasmussen (Natrona County Sheriff’s Office).
An 18-year-old named Luka Wade Rasmussen is facing charges for accidentally shooting his friend in the head with a handgun while they were gaming and smoking marijuana. The incident led to a charge of involuntary manslaughter, to which Rasmussen pleaded not guilty, as reported by Cowboy State Daily.
Rasmussen’s bail was set at $500,000, and the judge denied a request from his defense team to reduce it to $100,000. Despite efforts by his public defender Marty Scott, who shared a letter from Rasmussen’s Wendy’s coworkers vouching for his character, District Attorney Dan Itzen emphasized the severity of the charge. Itzen also mentioned that one of the three guns found at the scene had been reported stolen in the summer of 2024.
The tragic incident took place in Casper, Wyoming, where Rasmussen, the victim named Riley Jacob Sears, aged 16, and another teenager were hanging out on February 12, 2025. They were playing video games and using marijuana when, at some point, Rasmussen mishandled a gun, resulting in the fatal shot, according to authorities.
The defendant allegedly said he had had the gun resting on his thigh when it went off, but the teenage witness claimed that Rasmussen was pointing it at Sears. Prosecutors have presented photos in court showing Rasmussen pointing the gun at the teenage witness on two separate dates. The latter image happened on Feb. 10 — two days before the fatal shooting.
Police claim that the father of the third teen had told Rasmussen to “get rid of the gun.”
“Rasmussen stated he ran out of the back door on the main floor of the residence and ran to the shed,” police wrote. “Rasmussen stated he threw his gun behind the shed and did not recall removing the magazine or manipulating the gun.”
Police claimed they found the gun behind the shed.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
