In what began as playful teasing between a young couple, a life was tragically cut short, leaving a family to mourn and a young man to face the consequences of his actions. On July 5, 2017, in Federal Way, Washington, 21-year-old Faavale Muipu, a female, died after being shot in the face. The incident unfolded in a home where she was with her 23-year-old boyfriend, Chris Tavita.
According to Tavita's account to law enforcement, the fatal shooting was the result of a game that went
horribly wrong. He claimed that Muipu had been playfully teasing him with a stun gun, threatening to use it on him. In what he described as a reciprocal jest, Tavita said he picked up a handgun and threatened to shoot her if she did.
Unbeknownst to them, though the magazine had been removed from the firearm, a single bullet remained in the chamber. When Tavita pulled the trigger, the gun discharged, striking Muipu in the face. Despite being rushed to a hospital, she succumbed to her injuries.
Initially, Tavita attempted to mislead investigators, claiming that Muipu had accidentally shot herself. However, the evidence at the scene and the subsequent investigation led to a different conclusion. Faced with the inconsistencies in his story, Tavita eventually admitted to his role in the shooting, though he maintained that it was an accident. Following the investigation, Chris Tavita was arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of Faavale Muipu.
