Celebration of life held for Battle High School senior killed in shooting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Friends and family gathered Monday afternoon to celebrate the life of a Battle High School senior killed last week in a shooting that led to a manslaughter charge.

The celebration of life for Roberto Lauer took place at Battle High School in the parking lot near the football field. The event included friends, family and teachers speaking and holding a balloon release in his honor.

There were close to 100 people who gathered to celebrate Lauer's life. Friends and family say Lauer was a great kid who was about to graduate high school, that had a big future ahead of him.

Loved one's also said, Lauer was very respectful and loved helping people and that he was a great big brother that had a big interest in music.

Lauer's mom said, "He had the most bright, loving, caring heart, he wanted everyone to be happy and wanted no one to suffer."

Lauer's family wants people to put the guns down and says that guns are not important.

"I don't them to have to go through what we are going through, I don't want no one else to go through what we are having to go through," Lauer's mom said.

Lauer, 18, was pronounced dead on Jan. 17 after being found at an Irma Drive address with a gunshot wound, police said. Prosecutors charged Shawn P. Long, 18, with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in Lauer's death.

According to a probable cause statement, Long admitted to police that he pointed the gun at Lauer in a "playful manner" before the gun went off. Long told police he didn't know the gun was loaded at the time, court documents say.

Neighbors say that Long and Lauer were best friends.

Long pleaded not guilty in his initial court appearance Wednesday. He is being held at the Boone County Jail on a $250,000 cash-only bond. A hearing for a new bond is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday.