On a Thursday afternoon in Great Falls, Montana, the life of 14-year-old Hispanic/Latino male Antonio Carlos Thierry Jr. was tragically cut short. The date was November 12, 2020, when emergency services were called to a residence on Beaverhead Court around 5 p.m. for a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Antonio, affectionately known as "JuJu," with a gunshot wound to his chest. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy later confirmed that a gunshot wound was the cause of death, and the manner was ruled a homicide. The investigation that followed revealed a heartbreaking story of a friendly gathering gone horribly wrong. The person responsible for the fatal shot was identified as Antonio's 14-year-old friend, Connor Svingen. According to investigators, Svingen had taken a rifle from his father's locked gun case. While he was handling the weapon, it accidentally discharged, striking Antonio.
The incident sent shockwaves through the community, particularly among the students and staff at East Middle School, where Antonio was an eighth grader.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Connor Svingen was charged with negligent homicide. In April 2021, he appeared in Juvenile Court and admitted to the charge. Two months later, in June 2021, a judge sentenced him to juvenile probation until he reaches the age of 21. The community was left to mourn the loss of a young man remembered for his kind-hearted nature, his love for basketball, and the video game Fortnite. In response to the tragedy, Great Falls Public Schools made counseling services available to students and staff to help them cope with the sudden and profound loss of a young life.
