Northwestern State football player Ronnie Caldwell dead after shooting near campus

A Northwestern State University football player was shot later and died on Thursday morning. 

Ronald Caldwell Jr., 21, was shot several times and was found when Natchitoches Police responded at 1:08 a.m. to a report of a shooting at an apartment complex just outside of the campus, according to the Shreveport-Bossier Advocate.

Officers did attempt to render aid to Caldwell, but he was pronounced dead by the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office. 

Police told USA Today that they have received a number of leads in the case, and they do have a person of interest in the shooting. 

Caldwell, a junior, played safety for the football program and started 10 games in 2022 before injuries cost him the 2023 season.

He was majoring in business administration. 

“The Northwestern State family has suffered a tremendous loss,” head football coach Brad Laird said in a statement. “Ronnie Caldwell was a young man who had a bright future ahead of him on or off the football field. He was our voice in the locker room. When Ronnie spoke, others listened. The respect our football team had for Ronnie was evident. He did not play a snap this year because of an injury, but his voice resonated with every member of our team from the first player to the 115th on our roster. 

“Our hearts are broken and ache for Ronnie’s family and friends. His loss will be felt here at Northwestern State, in Natchitoches and in his home. We will treasure the time we spent with Ronnie and the memories we made, and we will hold him and his family in our hearts as we attempt to move forward in the days and weeks ahead.”

This Saturday’s game against Nicholls State University already has been canceled, and Northwestern State said it will make decisions about the rest of the team’s schedule as the season progresses. 

“We are stunned and saddened by the sudden loss of Ronnie Caldwell,” director of athletics Kevin Bostian said. “Ronnie was a devoted teammate, friend, brother and son. His teammates, coaches and staff members who had the pleasure of knowing Ronnie will remember his ever-present smile and the way he could light up any room when he walked in.

“Words truly cannot express the heartache we feel for Ronnie, his family, his teammates and our university community.”