Fifteen-year-old Owen Caltagirone of Lillington, North Carolina, was shot and killed around 1 a.m. on November 13, 2017, while inside a one-room building behind his family’s home. Owen, a freshman at Star Academy who enjoyed the outdoors, died despite attempts to save him.

The Harnett County District Attorney’s Office charged 16-year-old Emmanuwell Nelson with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting. Nelson, described as Owen’s best friend, and another friend present said the gun discharged accidentally while Nelson was moving it; they said the group had been hunting the previous night and had forgotten to unload the firearm. Several weapons were later recovered in the building.

Owen’s parents, Sandy and Joseph Caltagirone, expressed opposing views: Sandy said she did not believe the shooting was accidental, while Joseph said he believed it was. The DA’s Office maintained that Nelson handled the gun recklessly, and Nelson’s bond was set at $400,000.

If anyone was in that area the night of November 13, 2017, or has information about the events in the building behind the Caltagirone home, please come forward.