Two Unintentional Shootings in Louisiana; One Boy Dies, Another in Critical Condition

In Shreveport, Louisiana, 12-year-old Caiden Smith, accidentally shot himself in the chest with a gun he found inside his grandmother’s home. His brother drove him to the hospital where he later died. The brother told police that they were cleaning out the house, when he heard the gun fire in another room and found his brother wounded. The gun was recovered at the scene. Officials continue to investigate.

And in Ville Platte, Louisiana, two ten-year-old boys were playing with a loaded gun they found in a vehicle that fired, hitting one of them in the head. The boy was airlifted to the hospital, and is reportedly in critical condition. There is an ongoing investigation into the shooting.

Sources:

Brittney Hazelton, “12-year-old Accidentally Shoots Himself, Dies at Hospital, Shreveport Police Say,” ksla.com (August 12, 2025).

Paris Flannigan, “Boy in Critical Condition After Accidental Shooting in Ville Platte,” katc.com (August 11, 2025).