After safety Ronnie Caldwell was shot and killed, Northwestern State suspended the rest of their football season and fired head coach Brad Laird. ‘I don’t feel I can give my all to these guys or this program,’ Laird said in a statement on Thursday, citing the emotional toll Ronnie’s death had taken on him.
“Any coach will tell you that their players become like family, so the loss of Ronnie was like losing a son. I love this program and this university and I know it will persevere and move forward with the competitive spirit that is at the core of our DNA.”
This season, the Demons went winless at 0-6.
aldwell’s death led to the cancellation of their game against Nicholls State, and last week they lost 37-20 against Southeastern Louisiana at home.
Caldwell, a junior, was murdered on October 12 after being shot in his residence.
The inquiry into Caldwell’s killing has led to the arrest of two persons.
As of yet, neither has been suspected of or charged with murder.
On October 20, authorities in Natchitoches, Louisiana, arrested Caldwell’s teammate, Maurice Campbell, and charged him with “obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance,” as reported by ABC station KTBS.
KALB reports that Campbell, who played in four games for Northwestern State this year, has disappeared from the school’s athletics page.
“We understand that this news may be concerning and want to assure the public that we are actively monitoring the situation and cooperating with the authorities to determine any additional action that the university should take at this time,” a Northwestern State spokesperson said in a statement to KTBS after Campbell’s arrest.
“It is important to remember that an arrest does not imply guilt and we must respect the legal process and the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. We want to emphasize that the alleged actions of one individual do not reflect the values and principles of our institution. NSU is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all and will take appropriate action based on the outcome of the legal process.”
“We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.”
John McIntosh, Caldwell’s roommate, was detained and then released on bail after being charged with handgun possession in the presence of a controlled hazardous narcotic.
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