Mother & Child Killed in Keithville Storm Identified

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Storms roared through the Arklatex Tuesday night, with tornadoes touching down across the area.  The National Weather Service reported  at least 4 tornadoes touched down across the Arklatex, including a powerful tornado in the Keithville/Keatchie area. Other touchdown locations include southwest Caddo Parish, Northern Panola, and Farmerville, LA.  Several homes were destroyed, and the Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed 2 storm-related deaths in Caddo Parish.

A young mother and her son killed in a tornado that struck the Keithville area Tuesday, December 13, 2022, have been named by the Caddo Parish Coroner's office.

Yoshiko A. Smith, 30, and Nikolus Little, 8, were recovered following the storm that struck Keithville at 4:49 p.m. The child was found in a wooded area at 10:55 p.m., while the mother's body was found under storm debris at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 14, 2022.  Autopsies for both decedents have been ordered.

The Caddo Parish coroner has confirmed the deaths of a 30-year-old female and her 8-year-old son who "died of blunt force trauma after a tornado destroyed their home in Caddo Parish." The coroner has confirmed these deaths are considered storm related. This brings the total number of confirmed Louisiana storm-related deaths due to this storm event to 2 at this time.  KEEL News has confirmed the child was home-schooled.

One other injury has been reported in Keithville, and more than 25 people were hurt in Farmerville in Union Parish, when an apartment complex was destroyed by the tornado.