14-Year-Old Shot by Neighbor in Louisiana While Kids Play Hide and Seek Outside
STARKS, Louisiana — A peaceful Sunday morning took a tragic turn in Starks, Louisiana, when a 14-year-old girl was shot in the head during a simple game of hide and seek.
Witnesses describe a scene that began with children laughing and ended in chaos, leaving an entire community shaken and searching for answers.
I have to be honest: when I first heard about this incident, my heart sank.
It’s the kind of event that makes you pause and think, “Could this really happen in my own neighborhood?”
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what folks in Starks are grappling with right now.
Early-Morning Shooting
According to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies rushed to the scene in the early hours of Sunday after a distress call reported a shooting at a local residence.
They arrived to find a 14-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to the back of her head.
Medical personnel were immediately summoned, and the young girl was transported to a nearby hospital where she remains in critical condition.
Friends and family are understandably distraught, holding onto hope that she pulls through.
A Neighborhood in Shock
People here can’t stop talking about how innocent the evening seemed just moments before everything changed.
Kids were outside playing hide and seek, a game that so many of us remember fondly from our own childhoods.
But this time, the game had an unthinkable ending.
I’ve spoken with a few neighbors, and most are still coming to terms with the reality of the situation.
One resident even told me, “It feels like we’re all living in a nightmare.” And honestly, that sentiment seems to be shared across the entire block.
58 year-old Louisiana man shot a 14 year-old girl who was playing hide and seek with her friends. He saw shadows outside his home and started shooting. The girl survived. pic.twitter.com/P9yY7YVJDc
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 9, 2023
Alleged Shooter in Custody
Authorities quickly identified the alleged shooter as 58-year-old David V. Doyle, who was taken into custody at the scene without incident.
Investigators say the children were using Doyle’s yard as part of their hide and seek game when he reportedly noticed movement outside his home.
Deputy Sarah Lawson, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, explained that Doyle admitted to retrieving his firearm after observing “shadows” or “figures” running away.
Doyle allegedly told authorities he fired at those figures without realizing one of them was a young teen.
Charges and Ongoing Investigation
Doyle now faces multiple charges, including aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a firearm, and illegal discharge of a firearm.
He remains in custody, awaiting further legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, local authorities continue their investigation, trying to piece together every detail that led to this tragic turn of events.
As a reporter—and simply as a person—it’s hard not to feel frustrated when hearing about an avoidable situation like this.
Yet, it seems we keep hearing about these incidents far too often.
Gun Violence Concerns
For many in Starks, this shooting has reignited the familiar debate over firearm safety and responsible ownership.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), firearm-related injuries remain a significant public health issue in the United States.
In 2020 alone, there were 45,222 deaths attributed to firearms.
Those numbers, I’ll admit, are deeply unsettling.
Each statistic represents someone’s friend, parent, sibling, or child.
And when it happens in a tight-knit community like Starks, the pain resonates even more intensely.
Community Reaction
Neighbors have begun rallying around the victim’s family, offering support, prayers, and whatever help they can provide.
Many are organizing meal trains and discussing ways to raise funds for medical bills.
There’s this collective sense of wanting to do something—anything—to ease the burden of those most directly affected.
I spoke with one local mother who said, “It could’ve been my child. It’s a stark reminder that life can change in an instant.”
Her voice was trembling, and I could tell the trauma of the incident weighed heavily on her mind.
“A Deeply Tragic Event”
Sheriff William Carter took to local media to share his perspective, stating, “This is a deeply tragic event that has affected everyone involved.”
“Our thoughts are with the young girl and her loved ones during this difficult time.” His statement echoed the grief that so many in this rural Louisiana town are feeling.
It’s clear that this story is far from over.
As the investigation unfolds, there’s hope that the legal process will provide some measure of justice and that the young teen receives every chance to recover fully.
For now, people in Starks and beyond are left grappling with a stark reality: a simple child’s game ended in unimaginable violence.
And that’s a truth no one in this community will soon forget.
Related News: Illinois Man Charged After Accidentally Shooting Himself in Sleep During Nightmare.
