US teen, 19, who survived father's murder-suicide attack, dies suddenly 1 week after starting university

A 19-year-old teen in Utah, United States, who was the sole survivor of a 2024 murder-suicide involving his parents and three siblings has unexpectedly passed away.

Sha Reh, who was 17 at the time of the tragedy, had just started studying at the University of Utah just a week before his death.

In a statement posted on his Gofundme page, his family said he passed away of natural causes unexpectedly in his aunt and uncle's home on Jan. 11 (U.S. time).

They said he had spent the past year adjusting to his new life after being left blind from the incident.

Pursued his dreams

Following the incident, Sha had attended the School for the Deaf and Blind, where he learned to communicate in Braille and live independently, they said.

He had just started as an undergraduate at the University of Utah just a week ago.

“Despite losing his vision in both eyes, and over the course of the past 13 months, Sha Reh overcame numerous obstacles on his pathway to healing," they wrote.

Sha was said to be living independently and pursuing his dream of obtaining a college education and eventually enrolling in law school.

“While we are devastated at the news of his death, the knowledge of the joy of his reunion with his family exceeds our pain. He was among those who were once blind, but now can see. He has a perfect vision of his and his family’s eternity, and his home is now with them.

The family expressed gratitude to those who showed loving kindness to Sha and their family.

Murder-suicide

A family member had discovered Sha with a gunshot wound at his home in Utah in December 2024.

Inside the home, officers located the dead bodies of his five other family members.

Police believed his father, 42, had killed his mother and siblings before dying by suicide.

The family were refugees from Myanmar and had moved to the U.S. over ten years ago.

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