In the early morning hours of October 12, 2023, the life of 21-year-old Ronald LaWayne Caldwell Jr., a Black male, was tragically cut short in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Officers from the Natchitoches Police Department were dispatched to the 3800 block of University Parkway around 1:08 a.m. following reports of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they discovered Caldwell suffering from several gunshot wounds.
Despite the immediate response, Caldwell was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office.
Ronald, affectionately known as 'Doogie' to his family and 'Ro' to his friends, was a junior and a business administration major at Northwestern State University. Originally from Manor, Texas, he was a respected member of the university's football team. An injury had sidelined him for the season, but his passion for the sport and his team remained evident as he took on a coaching role from the sidelines, complete with a headset during games. Beyond the football field, he was recognized for his academic achievements, earning a spot on the Southland Conference Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll in 2022. He was described as a loving and spiritual young man who was deeply devoted to his family and community.
The investigation into Caldwell's homicide led to two arrests, though neither was for the killing itself. On the day of the shooting, Natchitoches Police Department detectives arrested Caldwell's roommate, 27-year-old John McIntosh of Natchitoches. He was charged with possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance. More than a year after the incident, it was reported that McIntosh had been identified as a suspect in a police report but had not been charged in Caldwell's death. He later pleaded guilty to charges of illegal carrying of a weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia, receiving a sentence of six months of supervised probation.
A second individual, Maurice Campbell II, a 22-year-old teammate of Caldwell's from Memphis, was also arrested in connection with the case. His charges included obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance. Following his arrest, Campbell was removed from the Northwestern State football team roster. Despite these arrests, the person responsible for Ronald Caldwell Jr.'s death remains at large, and the homicide investigation is ongoing. In the wake of their son's death, Caldwell's family filed a lawsuit against Northwestern State University, though the claims against the university were later dismissed.
