A quiet Elsmere neighborhood was rocked by tragedy Monday night when 15-year-old Tristen Paige Smith was found fatally shot in the 3700 block of Autumn Road.
Police were dispatched around 8:45 p.m. following reports of gunfire in the area. Upon arrival, officers discovered Tristen with gunshot wounds to her chest and arm. Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, the young girl was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Elsmere Police Department, a 15-year-old male suspect was later taken into custody. He is currently facing charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence, and fleeing the scene. Police said the teen suspect allegedly dropped the firearm while fleeing, and as of Tuesday evening, investigators were still canvassing the area in search of the missing weapon.
“This is a devastating loss for our community,” Elsmere Police said in a statement. “We are doing everything we can to bring answers and justice to Tristen’s family.”
Authorities have confirmed that the suspect will be prosecuted in juvenile court for now, in accordance with Kentucky law. A decision on whether the case will be moved to adult court is pending and will be determined by prosecutors in the coming weeks.
Tristen Paige Smith would have been a sophomore at Harrison High School this fall. A family friend described her as “a vibrant, sweet soul” and urged the public to keep her loved ones in their prayers.
“Our hearts are broken,” the friend said. “She was just beginning her life, full of hope and dreams.”
As investigators continue their search for the murder weapon and piece together the events leading up to the shooting, a community mourns the life of a young girl taken far too soon.