Gavin Hall, a 20-year-old White male, died on July 4, 2020, in Lincoln, Nebraska, from a single gunshot wound to the head. The incident occurred at a small gathering of friends at a home he shared with his roommate.
His death was the result of a shooting that involved his friend and roommate, Zachariah Serna, who was also 20 years old at the time. Serna told investigators that he and Hall had been joking around and were struggling over a shotgun when it accidentally discharged.
However, this account was contradicted by forensic evidence presented by the Lincoln Police Department. A blood-pattern analysis expert suggested that Hall and Serna were at least four feet apart when the firearm went off.
Following the investigation into Hall's death, Zachariah Serna was arrested. He later pleaded no contest to a charge of manslaughter in connection with the shooting. Despite the conflicting accounts of the incident, Gavin Hall's family described the shooting as a "tragic accident" in an online fundraiser. Serna faced a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison for his role in his friend's death.
