In the early hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the life of 18-year-old Charlie Washington was tragically cut short in a shooting that occurred in a Riverton, Wyoming apartment. A Native American, Washington was just nine days shy of his nineteenth birthday. He was born on March 12, 2007, in Harden, Montana, and had made Riverton his home after living in various other locations.
Those who knew him described him as the light of every room he entered, a young man who enjoyed spending time with his friends and cherished his nieces and nephews.
The incident unfolded just after midnight when a gunshot was heard inside an apartment on Forest Drive. Responding officers discovered Washington deceased inside the residence with a gunshot wound to the head. An assistant manager of the apartment complex, a military veteran, described seeing Washington in a recliner with what appeared to be a fatal headshot. A bullet hole was also found in the wall of the adjacent office.
According to an eyewitness account, another 18-year-old male was present at the scene and was heard exclaiming, "I shot him, I shot him," before reportedly fleeing the apartment with a gun. The witness indicated that the shooter had been waving the gun around when it discharged, striking Washington. The Riverton Police Department confirmed they were investigating the fatal shooting, stating that it appeared to be an isolated incident and that there was no ongoing threat to the community. At the time of the initial reports, no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting.
Charlie, who went by the nickname "Baby Bull," was remembered for his love of family and friends, listening to music, skateboarding, and creating art. He had attended several high schools in the area, including Fort Washakie High School, Wyoming Indian High School, and Arapaho Charter School, and was awaiting acceptance into the Job Corps program. Funeral services were held for him at St. Stephen's Catholic Church, followed by burial at the Arapaho Catholic Cemetery.
