Casper student dies in shooting
CASPER — A Natrona County High School student slain Tuesday morning has been identified as 17-year-old Lenea Brown.
The Natrona County Coroner’s Office publicly identified Lenea, who was shot to death in a residential Casper neighborhood, on Wednesday morning after her next of kin had been notified.
The Casper Police Department conducted an investigation in the area of Whispering Springs Road and Gila Bend, according to a Facebook post issued shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday.
The coroner’s office press release states that the incident happened in the 6800 block of Buckboard Road in Casper.
The involved parties are in custody and witnesses are being interviewed by detectives, according to the Tuesday post. The investigation is ongoing and further information surrounding the circumstances of the death will be released by the Casper Police Department, according to a press release from the coroner’s office.
No charges have been filed with the Natrona County Circuit court as of early Wednesday morning.
The post additionally said the shooting was an isolated incident and that there is no known threat to the community.
The Natrona County School District said it “extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family, friends and school community” in a Facebook post on Tuesday. The district added that it would increase school resource officer support on campus, according to the district’s post.
Brown’s slaying is the second incident resulting in the death of a student in just over a month.
On April 7, Robert Dean Maher, 14, was stabbed twice, once in the heart and once in the stomach, with a stolen kitchen knife outside Eastridge Mall.
Dominique Antonio Richard Harris and Jarreth Joseflee Sabstian Plunkett, both 15, are charged with felonious conspiracy to commit murder, felonious aggravated assault and battery and a misdemeanor theft. Plunkett is also charged with first-degree murder.
The Casper Police Department did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
Earlier in the day Tuesday, Casper police asked the public to avoid the area “so that we can efficiently conduct our investigation.”
As of a 5:15 p.m. statement via Facebook later that day, the area had reopened to traffic as normal.
“Your Casper Police Department would like to thank our community for your support today in avoiding the crime scene and allowing our investigators to safely do their work,” the statement read. “At this time the scene has been released and regular travel may resume.”
People with information related to this incident are encouraged to contact the Casper Police’s non-emergency line 307-235-8278. Community members that wish to remain anonymous may call 307-577-8477.
This story was published on May 16, 2024.