Shaundasia Smith, a 16-year-old African-American girl, tragically lost her life on March 29, 2015, in Wadesboro, North Carolina. Shaundasia was attending a sleepover at a friend's house when she was shot in the head with a rifle around 3 a.m. She was immediately rushed to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where she succumbed to her injuries about 15 hours later. The incident occurred at a home off Jim Hanna Lane, just outside of Wadesboro. Shaundasia was a student at Anson New Tech High School and had aspirations to attend college to study Architectural Engineering. She was known for her outgoing personality, leadership qualities, and her love for volleyball.
The investigation into Shaundasia's death revealed that 22-year-old Roger Lee Rorie was present at the sleepover and allegedly handled a .22 caliber rifle that discharged, striking Shaundasia in the head. Rorie was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and obstruction of justice for allegedly attempting to hide the weapon. Investigators found no evidence of malice or intent to harm Shaundasia, but the main question remained: how did the weapon fire? The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was asked to lead the investigation due to Shaundasia's close ties with the Anson County Sheriff, Landric Reid, who was her grandfather.
The SBI conducted a thorough investigation, and Rorie eventually pleaded guilty to the charges. The case highlighted the importance of gun safety and the devastating consequences of mishandling firearms. Shaundasia's death had a profound impact on her community, with an outpouring of support and condolences from friends, family, and classmates. Her passing was a significant loss to those who knew her, and her memory continues to be cherished by her loved ones.
