Deondra Thomas, a 24-year-old man from Texas, is remembered by his mother for his laugh and his smile. His family recalls him as someone who was there for others and who kept in close contact. The last time his grandmother spoke to him was on the night he was killed; he told her that he loved her and warned her to take care of herself and stay off the streets. His aunt, Wendy Johnson, said she helped raise Deondra and spoiled him like her own child.
She recalled a recent conversation where he seemed troubled but insisted he was "good."
The joy and celebration of a homecoming football game in Ville Platte, Louisiana, were shattered by gunfire on the evening of Friday, October 16, 2026. Around 7:45 p.m., as Ville Platte High School played against Church Point High, about five gunshots rang out near the intersection of Harvey LeBas Street and Edward Knotoe Thomas Jr. Street, just a block from the stadium. The sound of the shots sent players and spectators running for safety, and the game, then in its second quarter, was immediately canceled.
When police arrived at the scene, they found that three people had been shot. Two of the victims were transported to hospitals in the Lafayette area for treatment of their injuries. The third victim, Deondra Thomas, died from his wounds. Though he was a resident of Texas, his family had close ties to the Ville Platte community and the high school. His death during what should have been a celebratory school event left his family and the community reeling. "It happened on Ville Platte High Homecoming," a relative said. "It's just a lot to deal with."
The investigation into the deadly shooting was launched by the Ville Platte Police Department, with assistance from the Louisiana State Police and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office. Police Chief A. Perry Thomas confirmed the details of the incident and the identity of the victim. Despite a significant law enforcement presence for the homecoming game, the shooting occurred just outside the immediate perimeter. Investigators have been actively working to determine the circumstances that led to the violence, but no arrests have been made.
The shooting prompted an outpouring of grief and condemnation from local officials. Ville Platte High School issued a statement expressing devastation over the loss of life. "What began as a beautiful Homecoming celebration ended in tragedy for so many," the administration wrote. The Evangeline Parish School Board and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association also released statements mourning the violence that disrupted a community event. In the wake of the shooting, a subsequent Ville Platte High football game was moved to a different location.
Deondra's family has pleaded for an end to street violence. "It's time to get the gun violence off the street," a family member stated. "People is losing a loved one, and it don't have to go out like that." His mother, Kailey Thomas, was overwhelmed by the sudden loss. “I got the phone call, and they said my son was dead, and I just knew it wasn’t real,” she said. “I just want that laugh and that smile again and tell me that he love me.” As of October 2026, the investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or persons of interest. The Ville Platte Police Department urges anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact their dispatch at 337-363-1313. All calls can remain anonymous.
