CASPER, Wyo. — A Casper teen accused of recklessly handling a firearm and causing the death of 16-year-old Riley Jacob Sears on Wednesday night heard a single charge of involuntary manslaughter in circuit court on Thursday.
Luka Rasmussen, 18, faces up to 20 years in prison on the charge, which relates to unlawful killing without malice. He is presumed innocent unless proven or pleading guilty.
Police responded to the reported shooting at an east Casper residence around 9:10 p.m. Wednesday and contacted a group of witnesses. The victim was found in the residence and pronounced dead on the scene, according to a release by the Casper Police Department on Thursday.
Detectives responded and interviewed the witnesses, who were all acquainted and had spent much of the evening at the residence. At some point, Rasmussen reportedly began handling a firearm recklessly, shooting the 16-year-old victim, the release said.
District Attorney Dan Itzen cited the seriousness of the charge and asked for a $500,000 cash or surety bond, set by Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge Brian Christensen.
Evidence of recent drug use and several stolen firearms were found at the scene.
Rasmussen, polite and visibly shaken, told the judge he’d lived in Casper about four years and worked at a restaurant.
