Gage Seal, a 15-year-old from Lake Elsinore, California, tragically lost his life on May 31, 2015. The incident occurred at the Travel Inn Motel in Lake Elsinore, where Gage was attending a party with friends. During the gathering, Ryan Jordan Jawad, a 16-year-old friend of Gage, was reportedly handling a handgun while under the influence of a concentrated form of marijuana known as "wax."
In a tragic turn of events, Jawad accidentally discharged the firearm, fatally wounding Gage Seal.
Following the incident, Ryan Jawad was charged as an adult with murder and possession of stolen property. The Riverside District Attorney's Office decided to charge Jawad as an adult due to the severity of the case. Jawad faced one count of murder with a personal use of a firearm allegation. The case was highly emotional, with families of both the victim and the suspect present during court proceedings. Jawad's father mentioned that the two boys were close friends who often stayed at each other's homes.
In July 2017, Ryan Jawad was sentenced to 17 years in prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter and admitting to the personal use of a firearm. He also faced several burglary counts in a separate case. Jawad is currently serving his sentence at the Wasco State Prison-Reception Center. The case highlighted the dangers of drug use and firearms, and the tragic consequences that can arise from their combination.
