Father in Louisiana Arrested and Charged with Negligent Homicide in Son’s Shooting Death in February in Raceland

Lafourche Parish, Louisiana – A father in Louisiana has been arrested and charged with negligent homicide in connection with his son’s shooting death in February in Raceland.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced that the father of a six-year-old child who was shot by his sibling in February has been charged with negligent homicide in the incident. Davonta Michel Sr., 24, of Raceland, Louisiana, has been arrested in connection with the death of his son, six-year-old Davonta “D.J.” Michel Jr.

On February 22, 2023, at 7:45 p.m., a man contacted 911 to report a small child had been shot at a residence in the 2000 block of LA Highway 182 in Raceland, Louisiana. The boy, later identified as Michel Jr., went unresponsive. CPR was performed on the scene, and the youngster was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.
 Authorities learned that the child and his six-year-old sibling discovered a loaded handgun in a bedroom at the residence and began playing with it. At one time, the pistol discharged, striking Michel Jr. The youngsters were at the home with their grandparents at the time of the incident.

Detectives reportedly discovered the gun unsecured in the father’s bedroom after additional inquiry. Following a thorough investigation into the event, investigators acquired an arrest warrant for Michel Sr.

Michel Sr. surrendered to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux, Louisiana on Monday, March 27, 2023. He was charged with negligent homicide. Bail is set at $200,000.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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