12 Year Old Killed in Shooting Named by Caddo Parish Coroner

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SHREVEPORT, LA-   Shreveport Police Department Investigates Fatal Shooting of 12-Year-Old

A preteen shot and killed in Southern Hills late Saturday, May 11, 2024, has been named by the Caddo Parish Coroner's office. 

 Jaylen Coleman, 12, was shot in the head while with a group of adolescents allegedly trying to break into parked cars in the 8800 block of  Hawthorne. He was pronounced deceased at the scene at 11:10 p.m. 

 The decedent was positively identified through fingerprint comparison. 

 The homicide, the 28th of the year in Caddo Parish and the 25th in Shreveport in that time, remains under investigation by the Shreveport Police Department, to which further media inquiries should be directed. 

An autopsy was ordered. 

On May 11th at approximately 11 p.m., officers from the Shreveport Police Department responded to a call reporting gunshots in the 8800 block of Hawthorne Drive. Upon arrival, officers received another call indicating a black male had been shot and was found unresponsive at the scene. Despite efforts by Shreveport Fire department to render aid, the male was pronounced deceased.

Violent crimes investigators from the Shreveport Police Department immediately initiated their investigation. A juvenile witness was detained, and it was revealed that the deceased, a 12-year-old male, was accompanied by multiple other juveniles attempting to break into a vehicle in the area. The burglary was interrupted by the vehicle owner, who fired a shot, resulting in the death of the 12-year-old.

Following interviews, one juvenile has been arrested on a count of simple burglary, yet other juvenile suspects involved in the burglary remain at large. The individual who fired the fatal shot has not been arrested at this time.

The Shreveport Police Department stresses that this investigation is in its early stages and will collaborate closely with the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office in the days ahead. We urge anyone with relevant information to come forward.

As we continue our investigation, we ask for patience and understanding. Further updates will be provided as they become available.