An 18-year-old high school track star was tragically shot and killed after jumping out of a closet to scare a friend, her family says.
The father of Premila Lal of Longmont, Colo., says the girl was returning home with her 12-year-old cousin around 8 p.m. Friday when she decided to play a prank that went horribly wrong.
Inside the house were Premila's 15-year-old brother and her friend, 21-year-old Nerrek Daniel Galley, a man who depicts himself as an avid gun enthusiast on his Facebook profile.
"They somehow entered the house and my son and Nerrek didn't know it was them," her father, Pravenn, told KDVR. "After she was shot, then Nerrek realized it was Premila."
Neighbors who witnessed the four frantically exiting the home called police, who say a handgun was recovered at the scene.
"I heard a girl screaming from inside the house. So, I looked out and I saw them coming out," neighbor Elaine Haddox told KDVR. "There were three guys and a girl. And they were all running out of the house, screaming, 'Hurry, hurry. We`ve got to go.'"
Minutes later, the four of them would arrive at Longmont United Hospital where Lal was pronounced dead around 9 p.m., according to local authorities.
Longmont police described Lal's death as "unintended and extremely tragic" on Saturday.
"At this time we are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the shooting, but there is no danger to the community," Longmont Police Cmdr. Jeff Satur told The Times Call.
Reports of Premila being shot after hiding in a closet is also said to be "consistent with our investigation," Satur said.
Galley has been charged with child abuse, reckless endangerment and permitting a juvenile to have a firearm. Police say they are still determining whether to charge Galley in the teen's death.
Lal's anguished parents are now mourning while describing her as a popular student and athlete who was successful both on the track and in the classroom.
"She graduated with 3.87 GPA with changing three schools. So she was a go-getter. We're going to miss her," said her father.