2 teenage brothers killed in separate accidental shootings months apart, police say

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB/Gray News) - A Louisiana family is grieving an unimaginable loss after two brothers were killed in separate shootings at the same home just months apart.

De’Vonte Coleman, 17, and Charleston Wright, 16, both died in shootings that police said were accidental.

Coleman was shot and killed last week while someone was attempting to modify a gun, according to authorities.

Wright, Coleman’s brother, died in January after being struck by a stray bullet at the same home.

Their father, who asked not to be identified out of respect for the family’s privacy, said the pain of losing one child is overwhelming. Losing two is something he is still trying to process.

“Losing a kid, that’s a different kind of hurt and pain right there,” he said. “That’s different.”

He said the losses have robbed him of a future he once imagined with his sons.

“I’m not going to get any grandkids from them. I won’t be able to see how they’ll turn out when they get grown. It’s a whole lot that I’m going to miss,” he said.

The father said what makes Coleman’s death especially difficult is that his son had spoken out against gun violence.

Coleman found an outlet through cycling, becoming known in Baton Rouge for performing bicycle tricks throughout the city. His passion for biking led to a documentary centered on his life and the people he had already lost to gun violence.

In the documentary, titled "Street Rider," Coleman said, “Where I grew up, it was straight violence. Well, that’s anywhere in Baton Rouge, but where I grew up at, it was straight violence. My choice to escape that violence was to hop on bikes. That’s how I escaped.”

Now, his father said the very issue Coleman spoke out against has taken his life. He believes the accessibility and misuse of firearms are growing problems.

“They got more firepower than the police,” he said. “They walk around with them on their hips like it’s the cowboy days, and they’re quick to pull them. Back in my day, you fight, you see that person tomorrow. There weren’t any guns or killing.”

The deaths come amid a troubling start to the year in Baton Rouge, with several young people killed in shootings.

In response, city leaders, Baton Rouge police and other public safety agencies recently hosted an event focused on responsible gun ownership and safety.

Officials said the goal is to spark community conversations and provide residents with practical steps to help prevent further violence.

“What do we need to do to make sure this doesn’t happen again?” said Michael Mitchell, director of community engagement for the Baton Rouge Office of Violence Prevention.

Those who attended said meaningful change will take time and require a collective effort from the community.

For the father who lost both of his sons, the path forward is rooted in faith.

“Pray and pray hard,” he said. “Have faith in God that everything will get better.”

Baton Rouge police arrested Jerry Smith, 24, in connection with Wright’s death. Corey Williams, 24, was arrested for his alleged involvement with Coleman’s death.

Both cases remain under investigation.