Talia Petoia, who had just turned 27, was shot and killed, reportedly by her boyfriend, 21-year-old Tyler Laughter, on March 10, in Mill Spring. Within a few days, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced that the killing was accidental — an unintentional discharge while handling a gun. Three months later, following a grand jury hearing, the district attorney indicted Talia’s boyfriend with involuntary manslaughter. His trial, assuming he doesn’t plead guilty, is scheduled for Aug. 15.

Dozens of people in Polk County and neighboring communities have collectively put up about $20,000 to help Talia’s family hire a lawyer and a private investigator to second-guess the findings of the Sheriff’s office, the grand jury, and the DA.

I reached out to someone who is familiar with some of the people behind the “Justice for Talia” campaign, and she put in me in touch with a woman who had been a friend of Talia’s for most of their lives. Emily Shanahan and I talked at Harmon Field on July 3.

More information
Mass shooting as a share of gun deaths:
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/26/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/
Philadelphia shooting:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philadelphia-shooting-kingsessing/
June 22, 2023 Polk County Sheriff’s Office Statement:https://classm.earth/polklore/PCSO-statement-TaliaPetoia.pdf
 Tryon Daily Bulletin coverage:
https://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2023/03/30/mill-spring-man-charged-with-involuntary-manslaughter-after-shooting-death/
WLOS coverage:
https://wlos.com/news/local/man-charged-involuntary-manslaughter-tyler-grayson-laughter-fatal-shooting-death-girlfriend-mill-spring-talia-petoia-tryon-officials-say-cleaning-loaded-gun
Justice For Talia Go Fund Me page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-talia-petoia

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