59°
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
7 Day Forecast
Follow our weather team on social media

Parents of two Baton Rouge teens killed in accidental shootings urge youth to put guns down

1 hour 37 minutes 53 seconds ago Saturday, March 28 2026 Mar 28, 2026 March 28, 2026 10:59 PM March 28, 2026 in News
Source: WBRZ

BATON ROUGE - Parents of two teens who died in separate accidental shootings within three months of each other are asking for teens to put the guns down.

Jennifer Coleman is the mother of 17-year-old Devonte Coleman, also known as One Hand Tay, who was one of the teens.

She told WBRZ that Devonte for bikes started a young age. Devonte's love for bikes helped him win best short documentary in the Louisiana High Schools Junior Film Contest last year for a film called "Street Rider."

"He loved his bikes, like his bikes and his bikes give him like any peace. If he's going through anything, the bikes, like he'll get on a bike. He can just jump on a bike and just go," she said.

Police say 24-year-old Corey Williams accidentally shot Devonte on March 18th at a home on Ozark Avenue. Detectives say several people were inside a bedroom, modifying a firearm when it went off and struck Devonte.

He died from his injuries three days later.

"I'm just messed up about the whole situation, and you know it's being said that there was accidents and I don't, I don't believe that at all. And it's just hard," Devonte's father told WBRZ.

Just three months prior, on January 8th, Devonte's younger brother, 16-year-old Charleston Wright, also died in an accidental shooting.

"I lost 2 sons in 73 days, and you know, it's just hard on me and everybody else in my family, you know, I just, it's crushing, it's devastating, it's just, it's heartbreaking, I'm just lost," he said.

Their mother, Jennifer Coleman, said the two brothers were close; she said losing them so closely together has devastated their family.

"Just taking one day at a time, and I know I know they're back together again, I mean, that's the only thing that keeps running through my head," she said.

This is why they are advocating for teens to put the guns down.

Coleman also told WBRZ Tay was working on his second film documentary, one they plan to complete for him.

"We're going to finish with the kids around Louisiana and if more want to just say something on this documentary, they're more than welcome to but we're going to finish the documentary in the name of One Hand Tay," Coleman said.

Corey Williams, 24, was booked on negligent homicide in connection with Coleman's death. Williams has since bonded out of jail. Jerry Smith, 24, was charged in connection with the younger brother's death.

More News

Desktop News

Click to open Continuous News in a sidebar that updates in real-time.
Radar
7 Days