13-year-old accused of killing father outside school after arguing about attending class, police say

HAMMOND, La. (WVUE/News) - A 13-year-old is accused of killing his father outside a school in Louisiana, authorities said.

Hammond police said the shooting happened on the morning of April 14 after the father and son argued about attending class at an alternative school.

Investigators said the father was shot in the school driveway while behind the wheel of an SUV, then crashed the vehicle into a home across the street.

Police said a 5-year-old was also in the vehicle.

The teen, still armed, then walked toward the main entrance of the school before being disarmed and detained by a Hammond police officer assigned as the school resource officer.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities said it was unclear where the teen got the gun and why he chose to shoot his father.

“Sometimes, when evil things are going to happen, they just happen,” Bergeron said. “We can do the best we can to stop them. I believe our lieutenant’s actions today could have stopped something much worse.”

The teen in this case was previously held on charges of attempted second-degree murder and additional charges. Those charges are expected to be upgraded to second-degree murder.

A Tangipahoa Parish grand jury would need to indict the teen on a second-degree murder charge for it to become official.

Neither the identity of the father nor the teen has been disclosed.