In the quiet moments of a Sunday evening in Shreveport, Louisiana, the life of 16-year-old Anthony 'Tony' Christopher Ebarb was tragically cut short. The male teen, a freshman at North Desoto High School known for his love of football, fishing, and hunting, was fatally wounded on January 2, 2022.
Earlier in the day, Tony, his 45-year-old father, Jeffrey Ebarb Sr., and his 15-year-old brother had visited a family friend where Jeffrey purchased a rifle.
The firearm was placed in the backseat of their vehicle, where the two brothers were seated. While waiting in the drive-through line at a Burger King, the rifle accidentally discharged while being handled by Tony's younger brother, striking and fatally wounding him. He was rushed to Christus Highland Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, both Jeffrey Ebarb Sr. and his 15-year-old son were taken into custody. The father was booked into the Shreveport City Jail, while the younger brother was taken to the Caddo Parish Juvenile Detention Center. Both faced charges of negligent homicide. In addition to the homicide charge, Jeffrey Ebarb Sr. also faced several hunting-related violations, including trespassing, illegally taking a deer or bear, hunting or discharging a firearm from a moving vehicle.
Jeffrey Ebarb Sr. made his first court appearance in Caddo Parish District Court on January 4, 2022. During the hearing, he stated that he could not afford an attorney, and the Caddo Parish Indigent Defenders Office was appointed to represent him. A preliminary examination was scheduled for the following month to determine if there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
