It was meant to be a relaxed Wednesday evening, but for 18-year-old Dynasty Battle and her companions, the night spiraled into shock and heartbreak. Around 10:50 p.m. on October 15, 2025, inside an apartment in the 900 block of North 9th Street in Lafayette, Indiana, a moment of careless handling of a firearm turned fatal.
According to investigators from the Lafayette Police Department, Dynasty had been inside the residence when her friend, 20-year-old Grace Fultz, pointed and waved a small-caliber pistol at others in the apartment. At some point, the gun discharged, and the bullet struck Dynasty in the chest.
Friends at the scene immediately called 911 and attempted first aid as paramedics and officers arrived. Despite their efforts, Dynasty was pronounced dead at the scene. The county coroner’s office later confirmed she died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Police found the pistol and its magazine lying on the floor next to the body. Investigators believe that the gun was in the friend’s hand when it fired accidentally. Witnesses were interviewed, and at this stage authorities say there are no other suspects or threats to the community.
Grace Fultz was taken into custody shortly thereafter and is being held at the Tippecanoe County Jail without bond. She faces multiple charges: involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, criminal recklessness, and pointing a firearm.
This harrowing incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a moment of careless play with a gun can become irrevocable. While the full investigation is ongoing, authorities say they are meticulously piecing together what led up to the shot.
In the days ahead, friends and family of Dynasty will wrestle with their grief, and the legal system will move to determine the full consequences of that night. A vibrant life has been cut short, and a community now faces the heart-wrenching aftermath of what should have been a simple night in.