On November 30, 2018, Gala Winona Zuehlke, a 17-year-old White/Caucasian female, died tragically in her Edmonds, Washington, apartment. A senior at Edmonds-Woodway High School, she was known for her creative and caring nature, with a love for animals and aspirations of becoming an elementary school teacher.
The circumstances of her death unfolded when a 16-year-old acquaintance, Timothy Puller, visited her apartment with a. 44-caliber revolver he had taken from a friend's home.
In the presence of Zuehlke and another friend, Puller began playing with the firearm, pointing it at various objects in the room. Despite being urged by the two girls to unload the weapon, he dismissed their concerns, assuring them that nothing would happen. After pointing the gun at Zuehlke's friend and pulling the trigger, which resulted in a click as the cylinder rotated, he then aimed the revolver at Zuehlke. This time, when he pulled the trigger, the gun discharged, and a single bullet struck her in the face, causing her death.
In the immediate aftermath, Puller fled the scene and went into hiding, reportedly contemplating leaving the state. The other friend present initially gave a different account to the police, claiming she had found Zuehlke's body, but later admitted to witnessing the shooting. An investigation led law enforcement to a home on Maltby Road, where Puller was arrested without incident on December 3, 2018. Authorities also recovered the revolver from inside a couch at a friend's house where Puller had been staying.
Timothy Puller, who was from Mountlake Terrace, was charged as an adult with first-degree manslaughter. In August 2019, he pleaded guilty to the charge. During court proceedings, his defense argued that he had undiagnosed ADHD and acted impulsively, not fully comprehending the danger of the weapon. The prosecution contended that his actions were not impulsive, highlighting that he loaded the gun and continued to pull the trigger despite warnings. Taking into account his youth, mental health, and lack of a criminal record, a judge sentenced him to nearly 10 years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation. He was also ordered to pay over $6,000 in restitution to Gala Zuehlke's family.
