Tennessee teenager Lily Basil was shot dead one day after graduating from high school

US News

From Nicholas McEntire

A Tennessee teenager whose “smile lit up every room she walked into” was fatally shot Saturday night, a day after she celebrated her high school graduation. The suspected gunman claimed he did not know the gun was loaded.

According to WSMV, 18-year-old Lily Basil was hit in the right shoulder by a rifle bullet and taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, where she was later pronounced dead.

The suspected shooter, Matthew Roufail, also 18, arrived at Williamson County Medical Center. When police encountered him there, he believed it was the hospital where Basil had been taken.

The teenager was detained for questioning and charged with manslaughter in connection with Basil’s death, WZTV reported, citing a police affidavit.

“Police have arrested 18-year-old Matthew Roufail. He is charged with manslaughter. His bail is set at $150,000,” Franklin police announced on Sunday. “Police believe this is an isolated incident. The investigation is ongoing.”

Roufail reportedly admitted to shooting Basil, but claimed the tragedy was not intentional and believed the AR-15-style rifle was not loaded.

One of the witnesses who tried to drive Basil to the hospital told police he saw Roufail shoot the graduate with a .22 caliber rifle.

The gun was in the trunk of the witness’s car, where the teenagers were hanging out.

According to the Williamson Herald, Basil graduated from Page High School in Franklin, Tennessee, on Friday, while Roufail had his graduation ceremony the same day at Ravenhood High School, 10 miles away.

“The Page High family mourns the loss of Lily Basil, who will graduate from the school in 2024. Lily was a bright spot; she was kind, sweet and extremely respectful. Her smile brightened every room she entered,” principal Katie Hill said in a statement, according to the outlet.

“Although she was new to the Page community, she quickly embraced the patriotic spirit and was a friend to everyone she met. The faculty, staff and students of Page will miss Lily greatly, and we are committed to honoring her memory by sharing her light.”

According to WKRN, Roufail was released on bail on Tuesday.

Several memorial services are planned in Bail’s honor, and her funeral is scheduled for Friday morning.

In addition to the services, community members were asked to light a candle at sunset Friday as part of Page High School’s “Light the Night: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Lily Basil” memorial service.

“Help us honor Lily and celebrate the light she brought into our lives by lighting a candle or lantern or turning on the porch light this evening,” Hill said.