A routine school drop-off in Hammond, Louisiana turned fatal when a 13-year-old boy allegedly shot his father outside an alternative school, according to police. The wounded man was taken to North Oaks Medical Center, where he later died, city officials said. A Hammond school resource officer stepped in quickly, disarmed the teen and detained him, and no students were hurt.
What happened
Staff at the Tangipahoa Alternative Programs campus on Crystal Street told a Hammond Police Department school resource officer that the boy refused to get out of his father's SUV in the morning carpool line. After a brief back-and-forth, the father decided to leave the line and drive his son back home.
As the vehicle pulled away just before 7:40 a.m., a gunshot rang out and the SUV suddenly accelerated across the street into a nearby house, police said. A pre-K-aged child riding in the back seat was not injured and was later released to a family member.
Neighbors told local reporters the crash blew a hole through a bedroom wall and described a chaotic scene as they rushed outside to help, according to FOX 8.
Officer intervenes, suspect detained
Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron Jr. said a lieutenant assigned to the school moved quickly toward the teen after the crash, disarmed him and took him into custody without firing his own weapon.
The father was rushed to North Oaks Medical Center and later died of his injuries, a Hammond spokesperson said. Prosecutors indicated that the boy was initially booked on an attempted second-degree murder charge, but that count may be upgraded to second-degree murder in light of the man's death. The 13-year-old was taken to the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center as the investigation continues, according to WBRZ.
School response
The campus was placed on full lockdown while officers secured the area. School officials said students were quickly moved into classrooms and doors were locked within minutes of the incident.
After the lockdown was lifted, counselors were sent to the school to support students and staff. District leaders noted that the alternative campus is equipped with metal detectors and has two assigned resource officers on site, according to WDSU.
Investigation questions
Investigators have not yet determined a motive and are still working to learn how the teen obtained the firearm, police said. Detectives are interviewing witnesses and reviewing physical evidence as they try to piece together what led up to the shooting, according to The Independent.
For any potential second-degree murder charge to become official, a Tangipahoa Parish grand jury would first have to return an indictment against the juvenile, ActionNews5 reported.
Legal outlook
Because the suspect is 13, prosecutors and juvenile authorities are following Louisiana's juvenile justice procedures while the case is reviewed. If a grand jury does issue an indictment, the current attempted second-degree murder count would be upgraded to second-degree murder.
Hammond officials say the investigation remains active and that more information will be made public as it becomes available, according to KNOE.
Neighbors' accounts
People living nearby said they woke up to the sound of the crash and ran outside to help. One neighbor, identified only as Anita, told local crews she saw a bullet hole in the SUV window and rushed to get the young child out.
She said the child was visibly shaken and repeatedly told her, "My uncle shot my dad," according to FOX 8.
