Texas High School Graduate Fatally Shot at Own Party Following Altercation Over ‘Making Faces’

In a tragic incident in Uhland, Texas, 18-year-old Andrew Farias was fatally shot during his own high school graduation party on May 25, 2025. The altercation began around 1 a.m. when two female attendees engaged in a dispute reportedly sparked by “making faces” at each other. As tensions escalated, Chad Lee-Gardner, also 18, intervened and allegedly struck the female homeowner—Farias’s aunt—with a pistol. When Farias confronted Lee-Gardner, he was shot twice and later pronounced dead at the scene.

Lee-Gardner fled the scene but was apprehended in Austin and is currently held in Travis County Jail on a murder charge.

Farias had graduated from San Marcos High School just over 24 hours before the incident and planned to attend Texas State University in the fall. He was remembered by family and friends as a positive, drama-free individual with aspirations to uplift his community.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which was reportedly captured on video by a partygoer.

This incident underscores the potential for seemingly minor disputes to escalate into fatal violence, highlighting the importance of conflict resolution and responsible behavior at social gatherings.