In the summer of 2023, the community of Hammond, Louisiana, was struck by a tragedy that cut short a young life. On July 8th, 13-year-old Dereon Reed, a female student at Lucille Nesom Memorial School, died inside a residence on Willow Street. Her death was the result of a single gunshot wound.
The Hammond Police Department responded to a call from the 1200 block of Willow Street to find that a shooting had occurred.
According to the investigation, a 14-year-old male was handling a firearm when it discharged, fatally wounding Dereon. Family members identified the young girl, and the news of her sudden death sent ripples of shock and grief through her school and the wider community.
In the wake of the incident, the 14-year-old male was taken into custody. He was subsequently booked into the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center on a charge of negligent homicide. Authorities have described the shooting as an accidental event.
Dereon was remembered by her family and friends as a vibrant young girl who was just beginning to blossom. She was a basketball player at her school and enjoyed spending time with her friends and riding four-wheelers. To honor her memory, friends, family, and classmates gathered for a balloon release, a somber tribute to a life ended far too soon. Her school made counselors and social workers available to support students and staff in their grief.
