In the small town of Cottonport, Louisiana, a tragic event unfolded in the early morning hours of August 14, 2020, forever altering the lives of those involved. Thomas McGhee, a 27-year-old male, found himself in the midst of a heated altercation on Martin Luther King Drive. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation and act as a peacemaker, McGhee intervened in the fight.
His efforts to restore calm were met with sudden and deadly violence.
Another man, 26-year-old Devante Caldwell of Cottonport, allegedly produced a firearm during the dispute. As Caldwell was reportedly struck in the face, he began to run away, firing multiple shots as he fled. Tragically, Thomas McGhee was struck by the gunfire and sustained fatal injuries. The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office was called to the scene around midnight to investigate the shooting.
In the wake of the incident, law enforcement quickly identified Devante Caldwell as the suspect. He was subsequently arrested and booked into the Avoyelles Parish Detention Center. In connection with the death of Thomas McGhee, Caldwell was charged with second-degree murder, and a significant bond of $1 million was set. While details of the ensuing legal proceedings, including a trial and specific conviction for the murder charge, are not publicly available, inmate records indicate that a Devante Latrell Caldwell from Cottonport is currently serving time with the Department of Corrections.
