SPOTSYLVANIA, VA – A confrontation at a bonfire party resulted in the death of a 19-year-old teenager when he attempted to defuse a fight. Identified as Christian Archen Whalen, he was in a group trespassing on private property in Spotsylvania County when the altercation took place just after midnight Sunday.
According to police, Whalen was shot in the lower extremity by another teenager when he stepped in to break up the fight. The police responded to the shooting incident around 1 a.m., and Whalen was swiftly taken to a hospital. Unfortunately, he did not survive his injuries.
The tragic news of Whalen’s death reached his girlfriend, Lacy Milling, via a gut-wrenching two-word text from his father, stating, “Christian died.” Milling revealed that she had cautioned Whalen against going to the party, and her anxiety grew when he did not reply to her texts.
Investigating the case, the detectives determined that 18-year-old Kenneth Watson was responsible for firing the fatal shot. Consequently, Watson has been charged with homicide and the use of a firearm in a felony. He is currently held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.
The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office expressed its deepest condolences to Whalen’s family and friends. The police department continues investigations and is seeking witnesses who may have left the party before police arrived.