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.
