In the winter of 2017, a gathering of family and friends at a south Lawrence apartment complex took a tragic turn, ending the life of 30-year-old Lei Ala A. Turner. On the late evening of December 27th, while socializing with loved ones at her sister's home in the August Place Apartments, Turner suffered a single, fatal gunshot wound to the chest. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by those present and responding officers who were dispatched at 11:10 p.m., her injuries proved too severe, and
she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial investigation suggested that the shooting may have been accidental. Friends and family described Turner as a fun-loving person who enjoyed socializing. That night, she was with a group of relatives and friends, planning a night out. A longtime acquaintance of the family, 27-year-old Willie K. Franklin, was present and handling a handgun. According to witness accounts, Franklin was showing the firearm and believed he had cleared the chamber before pulling the trigger, mistakenly thinking it was unloaded.
In the immediate aftermath, there was confusion, with witnesses stating that Franklin did not initially realize Turner had been shot. He reportedly expressed his remorse, stating he "didn't mean to" before leaving the apartment. Police quickly identified Franklin as the suspect and began working to locate him. He was arrested on December 31st and subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter for what was described as a reckless act. Franklin was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Following the incident, a GoFundMe page was established by friends to assist Turner's family with funeral expenses.
