CASPER — A Casper 18-year-old charged in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old while hanging out in an eastside Casper home Feb. 12 pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in Natrona County District Court.
Luka Rasmussen is accused of handling a handgun when it went off and killed Riley Jacob Sears.
In an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case, the dad of one of the teens at the home that day allegedly told Rasmussen to “get rid of the gun” after the shooting. It was later found stashed behind a shed on the property.
He also has a history of pointing guns at people, a Casper police detective testified at Rasmussen’s preliminary hearing in February.
He appeared at Tuesday’s hearing with attorney Marty Scott before Judge Kerri Johnson in an orange jumpsuit and shackles. He shook nervously while seated awaiting his arraignment.
Family and friends of the victim filled two rows of the courtroom.
Rasmussen listened to Johnson read the charge against him that involves “unlawfully killing a human being.”
“Do you understand the charge against you?” Johnson asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.
When asked how he would plead, Rasmussen told the judge he’s “not guilty.”
Scott asked the judge to consider reducing Rasmussen’s $500,000 cash or surety bond to $100,000 because of his age and the fact that the Wendy’s restaurant manager and staff where he worked had signed a letter attesting to Rasmussen’s character.
“He would be able to go back to his job,” Scott said.
District Attorney Dan Itzen told the court that “given the severity of the charge” and the fact that the case involved “stolen firearms,” the bond was appropriate.
“The court will continue the bond under the same terms and conditions that were previously set,” Johnson said.
Preliminary Hearing Testimony
The involuntary manslaughter charge stems from an incident when Rasmussen, Sears and a 17-year-old identified as TW in the police affidavit on the case gathered on the evening of Feb. 12 to play video games at TW’s house on East 8th Street.
Testimony from Casper Police Detective Leonard Jacobs during a Feb. 20 preliminary hearing on the charge and case said police were first called to the house on the report of a “traumatic injury.”
They found Sears’ body lying on its side in a second-floor bedroom with a single gunshot wound “just off his right eyebrow.”
The bullet had gone through his head, a gaming chair, curtain and glass door, Jacobs testified.
Police recovered a “single firearm” adjacent to Sears with the magazine ejected and the chamber empty, Jacobs said.
They found the .40-caliber Glock in the backyard between a shed and the fence with the magazine ejected and the chamber empty, he said.
Additionally, Jacobs testified that police found a third firearm in a grate inside a grill. He said the gun was associated with TW.
“That gun is being investigated as stolen in 2024,” Jacobs said during the preliminary hearing.
Jacobs testified that the police found evidence that marijuana or THC was being used in the bedroom through a vape pipe as well as other marijuana paraphernalia.
Evidence introduced at the preliminary hearing included photos of Rasmussen acting carelessly with the pistol, including pointing the weapon at TW.
Jacobs told the court TW told police that prior to the incident, Rasmussen had pointed his pistol at Sears and that “while the firearm is pointed at Sears the firearm goes off.”
“After about five seconds Riley collapsed to the ground,” Jacobs said TW told police.
Johnson on Tuesday ordered the matter be set for trial.
The involuntary manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
