In a tragic incident that echoes the ongoing concern over youth violence, a Missouri teenager was found dead in her own home, hours after being fatally shot. The girl’s mother made the heartbreaking discovery upon returning, which has led to charges being filed against three juveniles, according to local authorities.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported that on a Saturday afternoon, deputies arrived at a residence on Tower Road, near Hillsboro. The location is approximately a 45-minute drive from St. Louis. They found the body of 16-year-old Gabbriana Boyster, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. It is believed that the shooting occurred on Friday evening while three acquaintances, all juveniles, were present inside the home.
These events have resulted in one of the juveniles being charged with involuntary manslaughter, unlawful use of a weapon resulting in death, armed criminal action, and abandonment of a corpse. Two other juveniles have been charged with abandonment of a corpse and were subsequently released. Due to their ages, the Jefferson County Juvenile Office has not disclosed their identities.
Upon returning to her home, Gabbriana Boyster’s mother, Candy G’Sell, encountered the devastating scene of her daughter’s death. (Photo courtesy: Facebook/Candy G’Sell)
The Sheriff’s Office noted that at the time of the shooting, Candy G’Sell, Boyster’s mother, was not at home. She shared with KSDK that the last exchange with her daughter took place on Friday night, a conversation now forever etched in her memory.
“She told me she was staying home. I told her to lock the door,” G’Sell told the outlet.
When G’Sell returned home Saturday afternoon, she found her daughter’s body and called 911, according to the sheriff’s office. Paramedics pronounced the teen dead at the scene.
Gabbriana Boyster, 16, pictured with her mother, Candy G’sell. (Facebook/ Candy G’sell)
“I walked in the room and she was laying there … sitting up,” G’Sell said. “In the blink of an eye, you know. She didn’t deserve that.”
Investigators have not said what led to the shooting, though they say Boyster and the three suspects knew one another. G’Sell told the outlet that the boys were all friends of her daughter.
“It’s not a game. Guns are not toys,” G’Sell said.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell said the case has left multiple families grieving.
“There’s no getting around the loss of life,” Bissell told KTVI. “You’ve got one family who is torn apart by the loss of their loved one. You’ve got three other families that are now potentially going to be torn apart by the consequences [of the] actions of these young people. It’s a no-win situation for anybody.”
The teens mother remembered her as a kind-hearted teenager who loved her family, cared deeply about her friends and dreamed of becoming an ultrasound technician. (Facebook/ Candy G’sell)
G’Sell remembered her daughter, known to friends as “Gabby,” as a kind-hearted teenager who loved her family, cared deeply about her friends and dreamed of becoming an ultrasound technician, according to KSDK. Instead of getting ready for her daughter’s junior year at Hillsboro High School, G’Sell said she spent the week planning her daughter’s funeral.
“There’s no relief. My baby is gone,” G’Sell told the outlet. “What mother wants to bury their baby?”
The Hillsboro School District said grief counselors will be available for students and families following Boyster’s death.
“Our hearts are with the student’s family, friends, and everyone impacted by this unimaginable loss,” Superintendent Dr. Jon Isaacson said in a statement obtained by KMOV. “While words cannot take away the pain of this tragedy, we want our students, staff, and families to know they are not alone. We are committed to providing support and care for everyone who is grieving during this difficult time.”