14-Year-Old Shot

14-Year-Old Louisiana Boy Fatally Shot by Police

Cameron Tillman’s family told reporters that the young boy was shot about four times in the back.

By: Breanna Edwards

A 14-year-old Louisiana boy is dead after he was fatally shot by a Terrebonne Parish deputy Tuesday night in Houma, La., WWL TV reports.

According to the report, Louisiana State Police are involved in the investigation of the shooting.

Louisiana State Police Trooper Evan Harrell told reporters that it is still unclear what happened, but he did confirm that the young boy, Cameron Tillman, was killed in the shooting. Harrell also added that some type of weapon was recovered "in close proximity" to the boy's body, according to the news site.

"We actually took over the investigation due to the officer-involved shooting," Harrell added. "What transpired on the scene is being processed right now ... and we ask everybody to not make snap-judgment calls because we want to do a very thorough investigation because the officer and the 14-year-old deserve a thorough investigation."

What started the tragic scenario was apparently a 6 p.m. 911 call about suspects with weapons entering an abandoned house.

According to Cameron's brother Andre Tillman, who was inside the house, someone had knocked on the door. Cameron answered it.

"My little brother thought somebody was just clowning, because somebody is always clowning by the door. He opened [it] and the man just shot him. He didn't have nothing in his hand," Andre said.

Cameron's family told reporters on the scene that the Ellender High School student was shot approximately four or five times in the back.

Harrell told the news site that three suspects—two juveniles and an 18-year-old—were already in custody, while another suspect escaped the scene.

Local youths reportedly hung out often in the abandoned house, which had been empty since the last resident left more than a year ago.

Cameron's relatives told reporters that the young boy was "timid and respectful," according to the news site, with great athletic ability. He played basketball and football in his junior high years but was taking a year off from participating in sports to concentrate on academics.

"He had heard all the hype about high school and just wanted to concentrate on his grades for the first year," Ellender teacher Michael Legarde told the Courier about the young man.

"I look at him as one of my sons," Legarde added. "It's a shame. This was a good kid, never caused any trouble."