In the fall of 2015, a young Black / African American man's life was cut tragically short in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mikael Ashame, a 19-year-old male, was fatally shot on October 24, 2015. Friends and family remember him as a responsible and honest person who was deeply loved and could always make people smile. He was known for his dedication to his family, particularly helping his single mother raise his younger brother.
An honor student in middle school, he graduated high school early and went on to attend Southeast Technical Institute.
The evening of his death, Mikael was at an apartment where a party-like atmosphere involving alcohol and marijuana was taking place. The gathering took a fatal turn when a rifle was being handled. David Randle, Jr., who was 21 at the time, picked up an AK-47-style rifle. While those present were sitting in the living room area and reportedly getting along, the gun accidentally discharged. A single shot struck Mikael in the leg, hitting a major artery. He died within minutes from the gunshot wound.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, there was confusion and panic. Initial calls to 911 gave conflicting reports, with one suggesting a suicide and another claiming a masked intruder was responsible. While Randle and one other person remained at the scene to try and help Mikael, others at the party fled with the firearms. The subsequent police investigation led to the arrest of David Randle, Jr., who was charged with alternate counts of manslaughter.
The owner of the rifle, 19-year-old Mason Mitzel, was also arrested in connection with the incident. After the shooting, Mitzel fled and later barricaded himself in a basement in Brandon, requiring a SWAT team response to take him into custody. A search of Mitzel's car uncovered a significant quantity of drugs, including marijuana and hash oil, leading to five felony drug charges against him. Authorities were also working to determine if Mitzel legally owned the firearms. The investigation concluded that the death of Mikael Ashame was the result of a tragic accident fueled by the presence of drugs and alcohol.
