Brandon Bindon was a 14-year-old Black student at Capitol Middle School in his native Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he had also attended Melrose Elementary. Known to some by the nickname "Tadah," Brandon was the son of Mia Bindon and Brandon Coleman. He was part of a large, close-knit family, including his five sisters, Brandik, Dmyia, Beyonce, Brandasha, and Raneshia, and his four brothers, Delmrian, Carlos Jr., Bradley, and Bradyn. His life was celebrated by family and friends at a service at Winnfield Funeral Home before he was laid to rest in Stewart's Cemetery in Woodville, Mississippi. In a further tragedy for the family, Brandon's father passed away three years later.
The warm summer afternoon of Tuesday, June 10, 2014, took a devastating turn. Around 1:40 p.m., Brandon was with a group of friends at a home in the 1300 block of North 48th Street.
He was sitting in the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle while his best friend, a 16-year-old, sat in the back seat playing with a revolver. According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, the firearm accidentally discharged. The single bullet struck Brandon in the torso. A witness to the chaotic aftermath reported seeing Brandon stumble out of the car and collapse after a few steps. The other teenagers who had been in the vehicle jumped out, shouting in distress, “It’s not supposed to happen like that,” over and over again. Emergency services were called, and Brandon was rushed to a local hospital, but the injury was too severe. He was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
The Baton Rouge Police Department launched an immediate investigation into the shooting. Cpl. Don Coppola stated that detectives quickly determined the shooting was a tragic accident. The 16-year-old who had been handling the weapon was arrested. Because he was a minor, authorities did not publicly release his name. He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Detention Center on an initial charge of negligent homicide. The incident sent a shockwave through the community, highlighting the horrific and unintended consequences that can occur when firearms fall into the hands of young people. An autopsy for Brandon was scheduled for the following day to formally determine the cause of death.
The case proceeded through the juvenile justice system. While the initial charge was serious, the legal process concluded with a plea agreement. The 16-year-old suspect, who was described as Brandon's best friend, accepted a plea deal that amended the charge from negligent homicide to illegal use of a weapon. Following the agreement, the judge sentenced him to probation. This resolution brought a legal end to the case, though the profound emotional trauma for everyone involved, particularly the families of both boys, would endure long after the court proceedings concluded.
A 2016 report on the outcomes of 2014 homicide cases in Baton Rouge noted that Brandon's death was one of several from that year to be resolved through a plea deal rather than a trial. The legal chapter of this tragedy is now considered closed.
The sudden and violent loss of Brandon Bindon left his family and friends heartbroken. His death serves as a painful and permanent reminder of the irreversible consequences of accidental gun violence. Though his life was cut short, memories of the young boy from Capitol Middle School continue to be cherished by the many siblings, relatives, and friends he left behind.
