FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WZTV) — A Tennessee teenager was arrested in the shooting death of a recent high school graduate, but he claims he did not know the gun was loaded.
According to an affidavit from the Franklin Police Department, the shooting occurred Saturday in the 1400 block of Hanson Drive in Franklin. The 911 caller told police he was transporting the victim, identified as Lily Basil, to the hospital for a gunshot wound to the right shoulder.
Dispatch advised the caller to pull to the side of the road to wait for EMS assistance, the affidavit says. The driver did so at Murfreesboro Road near Carothers Parkway.
EMS transported Basil to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead, police report.
After Basil had been transported to the hospital, the two men who were originally driving her were taken to the Franklin Police Department for questioning.
According to the affidavit, detectives responded to the scene of the shooting on Hanson Drive and interviewed a witness who stated the shooter was a male possibly named Matthew who left the scene to go to the hospital.
Officers contacted 18-year-old Matthew Roufail at the Williamson County Medical Center and took him to the police department for questioning.
According to the affidavit, Roufail admitted to shooting Basil with what he thought was an unloaded AR-15-style rifle. One of the witnesses who attempted to drive Basil to the hospital told police he saw Roufail shoot Basil with a .22 caliber rifle that had been in the trunk of the witness' car on scene.
Roufail was charged with criminal homicide. His bond is set at $150,000.
Page High School Principal Dr. Katie Hill released the statement below regarding the death of Lily Basil:
"The Page High family mourns the loss of 2024 graduate Lily Basil. Lily was a light; she was kind, sweet and extremely respectful. Her smile lit up every room she entered. Though she was newer to the Page community, she quickly embraced the Patriot spirit and was a friend to everyone she met. Page faculty, staff and students will dearly miss Lily, and we are committed to honoring her memory by sharing her light."
Page High School communicated with students and staff to let them know that counselors are available this week for anyone needing support.
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