Joseph M. Safo-Agyare, an 18-year-old Black male, was fatally shot in Worcester, Massachusetts, just after midnight on Saturday, May 17, 2014. A high school senior on the verge of graduation from Worcester North High School, Safo-Agyare was with his friend, Karega Adolphe, and a woman, having attended several parties that evening. The group eventually went to Adolphe's home, where the tragic incident unfolded.
At his residence, Adolphe began handling a revolver. He reportedly unloaded the ammunition from the firearm onto a bed. In what was described as a joking manner, Adolphe then pointed the gun at Safo-Agyare's chest and pulled the trigger, not realizing a bullet remained in the chamber. The gun discharged, and Safo-Agyare was struck. Following the shooting, police were alerted to the situation when they noticed a speeding car with its lights off driving towards St. Vincent's Hospital. A woman exited the vehicle and informed the officers that someone had been shot. Safo-Agyare was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly thereafter.
The investigation into the shooting initially faced challenges, as police reported receiving little cooperation from individuals in the area where the incident occurred. However, their investigation led them to identify Karega Adolphe, then 19 years old, as the individual responsible for the accidental shooting. On June 21, 2014, Adolphe was arrested on a warrant for manslaughter.
In September 2015, Karega Adolphe pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm. During the court proceedings, a letter from Adolphe was read in which he expressed his remorse and stated that Safo-Agyare was "like a brother" to him. Following his guilty plea, Adolphe was sentenced to a term of up to seven years in prison for the unintentional killing of his friend.
