A 15-year-old boy, Kentrell Royal, was killed on December 26, 2024, inside an apartment on South Sherwood Forest Boulevard in Baton Rouge. Authorities say the fatal shooting occurred about 4:30 p.m. when a firearm discharged while another 15-year-old who was handling it accidentally fired a single shot. Kentrell, who was playing a video game at the time, was struck and died at the scene.

The friend who was handling the gun was taken into custody and booked into a juvenile detention center on a charge of negligent homicide; his name has not been released because he is a minor. A probable cause hearing was held in Juvenile Court. Kentrell’s father, Kerry Boatner, has described the shooting as a terrible accident, said he did not think the boys knew the gun was loaded, asked that charges be dropped, and expressed appreciation that the friend stayed and called for help. An obituary confirms Kentrell was born November 19, 2009, and was a student at Helix Mentorship Academy who wanted to become an engineer.

If anyone knew Kentrell or has information about what happened that afternoon, please share what you know.