Survived the Unthinkable — Then Gone: Teen Who Lived Through His Family’s 2024 Murder-Suicide Dies Suddenly at 19

A Utah teenager, who was the only member of his family to survive the 2024 murder-suicide of his parents and siblings, died unexpectedly on Sunday, Jan. 11. Sha Reh was 19.

Sha died suddenly of natural causes at his aunt and uncle’s house, his extended family said in a statement posted on GoFundMe. The teenager, who was left blind after the tragedy, died a week after accomplishing his goal to attend the University of Utah. His family established the GoFundMe to raise funeral costs.

“While we are devastated at the news of his death, the knowledge of the joy of his reunion with his family exceeds our pain,” Sha’s family said. “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.”

“Caring for him and watching him grow and regain his independence has been a labor of love for our family,” the family’s statement continued.

His family went on to thank Salt Lake County officials and first responders, as well as those who showed “loving kindness” to Shah and his family in the past year.

In December 2024, police in West Valley City, Utah, said a family member went to Sha’s home, where they found him suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers later found five other family members deceased inside the home.

The other victims were Sha’s mother, Bu Meh, 38, and his siblings — sisters Kristina Ree, 8, and Nyay Meh, 2, and brother Boe Reh, 11. Police said they believe Sha’s father, Dae Reh, 42, killed his wife and children before dying by suicide. Sha was 17 at the time and was shot in the head, reported Fox 13.

“Honestly, Sha was the kindest person I’ve ever known,” Josh Adams, the assistant principal at Granger High School, told the news outlet of Sha. “And I’ve gotten to know him pretty well over the course of the past year… and my life was so much better for it.”

Adams said he spoke with Sha, who had to learned Braille and new life skills to attend the University of Utah, just a few weeks before his death. Sha “had so much to offer this world… there’s no one better to teach endurance, to teach empathy, forgiveness,” Adams said.

In an interview with KSL in May 2025, Sha compared learning Braille to learning English when his family moved from Myanmar to the United States. His family was also baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Sha said his faith helped him stay positive.

“I strive to do good things in this world,” Sha said in May. “I am very grateful and blessed to have this opportunity to be happy.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.