Parents of Northwestern State football player file wrongful death suit

The parents of late Northwestern State football player Ronnie Caldwell Jr. have filed a wrongful death lawsuit after the Demons safety was gunned down in an apartment complex just outside of campus last month.

Ronald Caldwell Sr. and Blanche Bradley filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court’s Western District of Louisiana on Friday against former head coach Brad Laird, who resigned last week after the remainder of Northwestern State’s 2023 football season was canceled, the state of Louisiana through the board of supervisors of Northwestern State and The Quad Apartment Complex, where Caldwell was shot and killed on Oct. 12.

In the lawsuit obtained by USA TODAY Sports, Caldwell’s parents allege that Laird and the university didn’t intervene and protect their son when alerted that Caldwell’s new roommate pulled a gun on him three days before his death.

‘Instead of listening to and heeding Ronnie’s cries for help to move away from his violent roommate, NSU and Coach Laird failed one of its students and star athletes,’ the suit reads. ‘Ultimately, their failure cost Ronnie his life.’

According to the lawsuit, Caldwell was placed with a new roommate, who was not a college student, at The Quad Apartment Complex after mold was discovered in the previous room Caldwell shared with a football teammate. Caldwell and his new roommate were ‘not a good match,’ the suit says, and got into several verbal altercations that escalated into the new roommate pulling a gun on Caldwell on Oct. 9.

‘That same day, Ronald (Caldwell Sr.) sent a text to NSU head football coach Brad Laird alerting him that he needed help, and that Ronnie (Caldwell Jr.’s) roommate had pulled a gun on him,’ the suit reads. ‘Coach Laird replied with a phone call assuring Ronald (Caldwell Sr.) that he would take expedient action and move Ronnie (Caldwell Jr.’s) to a safe location immediately.’

The suit continued: ‘Three days later, Ronald (Caldwell Sr.) received his next call from Coach Laird at 2:07 a.m. informing him that Ronnie (Caldwell Jr.’s) had been murdered.’

The Natchitoches Police Department responded to a shooting at an apartment complex just outside of campus around 1 a.m. on Oct. 12, Corporal John Greely told USA TODAY Sports. Officials found Caldwell at the scene suffering from several gunshot wounds. Officers attempted to aid Caldwell but and he was pronounced dead by the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office.

“There was nothing put in place to protect my son,’ Bradley said during a press conference last week. ‘The school failed to protect my son.”

The Caldwell family is seeking monetary damages to compensate for mental anguish, pecuniary loss and funeral expenses, among other losses, on the grounds of vicarious liability and premises liability. They are requesting a trial by jury.

Northwestern State told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday that the university is ‘aware of the lawsuit filed by the family of Ronnie Caldwell.’ The statement added, ‘While we cannot comment on the lawsuit at this time, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Ronnie’s family following this terrible tragedy.’

Caldwell’s roommate John McIntosh was arrested after the shooting for possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, ESPN reports.

Northwestern State football player Maurice Campbell II was arrested in connection with Caldwell’s death for obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, NPD announced on Oct. 20. 

No one has been charged in the shooting yet. Caldwell’s death remains under investigation.