A 13-year-old boy is facing accusations of fatally shooting his father following an argument about attending school in Hammond, Louisiana.
Incident Details
On the morning of April 14, around 7:30 a.m., Hammond police were alerted to a situation at Tangipahoa Alternative School after the teen refused to exit his father’s car in the school drop-off line. Following discussions with a police officer and school officials, the boy’s father decided to drive him back home.
As the car began to pull away from the school’s driveway, a gunshot was heard, and the vehicle crashed into a nearby house.
Aftermath of the Shooting
The 13-year-old then walked toward the school’s entrance carrying a weapon before being detained by a responding police officer. Authorities confirmed that a 5-year-old child was also inside the car at the time of the incident. The boy’s father was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. Unfortunately, by April 18, it was confirmed that he had passed away from his injuries.
Investigation and Charges
Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron said that authorities were unclear about where the teen obtained the firearm or the motive behind the shooting. “Sometimes, when evil things are going to happen, they just happen,” the police chief said during a press conference.
The 13-year-old was initially held on charges of attempted second-degree murder. However, after the father’s death, the charges were expected to be upgraded to second-degree murder. The teen must be indicted by a Tangipahoa Parish grand jury for the charge to become official.
School Lockdown and Response
In the wake of the incident, Tangipahoa Alternative School was placed on lockdown. According to Ronald Genco, the assistant superintendent of Tangipahoa Parish Schools, every student was quickly brought into a classroom and the building was secured.
Community Response and Support
On April 18, the City of Hammond released a statement expressing its deep sadness over the death of the victim and extending condolences to the family. “The Hammond Police Department extends its heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the victim’s family as they endure this tragic loss,” the statement said.
In his response, Police Chief Bergeron emphasized the critical role of school resource officers (SROs) in preventing further violence. “We are incredibly grateful that we had an SRO at the school to intervene and prevent further injuries,” he said.
The teen is currently being held at the Florida Parishes Detention Center.
