In the small town of Nowata, Oklahoma, a promising young life was tragically cut short on the evening of October 5, 2018. Laramie Moffett, a 16-year-old female, was fatally shot at her family's home. Known for her love of animals and her passion for rodeo, particularly barrel racing where she had won numerous awards, Laramie's death sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community.
She was a vibrant teenager who was active in several organizations including the National Barrel Horse Association, Nowata Round-Up Club, and the FFA.
The events of that fateful night unfolded from a place of protection that spiraled into a devastating accident. Laramie had alerted her mother, Amanda Moffett, that a stray dog was attacking kittens outside their house. In an attempt to scare off the animal, Amanda went onto the front porch with a handgun and fired into the darkness at what she believed was the dog. Tragically, her daughter was in the line of fire and was struck by the bullet. Laramie Jayne Moffett, born on August 14, 2002, died as a result of the gunshot wound.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Amanda Moffett was arrested and initially faced a charge of first-degree murder in Nowata County District Court. However, this charge was later dismissed due to a jurisdictional issue, as Amanda is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The case was then taken up by federal authorities. Nearly five years after her daughter's death, Amanda Moffett pleaded guilty to a federal charge of involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country.
In her plea agreement, Amanda admitted to her actions, stating that she had not verified her daughter's location before discharging the firearm in the dark. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma noted that every gun owner has a legal responsibility to use extreme caution. Amanda Moffett, who was 43 at the time of her plea, faces a potential sentence of up to eight years in federal prison. She remained on supervised release pending her sentencing. The investigation into the tragic death of Laramie Moffett was conducted by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, the FBI, and the Nowata County Sheriff's Office.
