On July 28, 2018, a promising life was tragically cut short when 17-year-old Lorenzo Moore-Vaughn was fatally wounded in what was described as an accidental shooting. The incident occurred in a vehicle in Black Jack, Missouri, as Lorenzo was returning home from a party with his cousin and a close friend. He was a rising senior at McCluer High School who had been taking summer classes with the goal of graduating early. His family remembers him as a motivated young man who loved basketball and had aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur or working in forensic science.
The circumstances of Lorenzo’s death were particularly heartbreaking for his family, as it was his friend who was responsible for the fatal shot. While riding in the backseat of the car, 18-year-old Ronnie Williams was reportedly playing with a firearm when it discharged, striking Lorenzo. Lorenzo's cousin, Alfonzo Smith, who was in the driver's seat, described the traumatic moments following the gunshot and the immediate shock that set in. Both Smith and Williams called 911 for help. Lorenzo was transported to a hospital, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
In the wake of the shooting, Ronnie Williams was taken into custody and subsequently charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter. He admitted to firing the weapon, and a judge set his bond at $25,000, cash only. The devastating event left Lorenzo's family to grapple with the sudden and senseless loss of a young man on the cusp of his future. His older sister had been planning to surprise him with a car for his early graduation, a testament to the bright future they all envisioned for him.
