Northwestern State Football Player from Texas Dies in Shooting

According to a statement on the Northwestern State Athletics website, the team's Saturday football game at Nicholls has been canceled after the passing of junior safety Ronnie Caldwell. 

A report from KFDM indicates that Caldwell was killed in an early Thursday morning shooting at the Quad Apartments on University Parkway in Natchitoches. The report goes on to say that local police are investigating several persons of interest.

Caldwell played his high school football near Austin at Cedar Park High School. He then attended Tyler Junior College before transferring to Northwestern State following the 2021 football season. He passed away early Thursday morning.

Demons' head football coach Brad Laird issued the following statement on the Northwestern State website,

"The Northwestern State family has suffered a tremendous loss," head football coach Brad Laird said. "Ronnie Caldwell was a young man who had a bright future ahead of him on or off the football field. He was our voice in the locker room. When Ronnie spoke, others listened. The respect our football team had for Ronnie was evident. He did not play a snap this year because of an injury, but his voice resonated with every member of our team from the first player to the 115^th on our roster.

"Our hearts are broken and ache for Ronnie's family and friends. His loss will be felt here at Northwestern State, in Natchitoches and in his home. We will treasure the time we spent with Ronnie and the memories we made, and we will hold him and his family in our hearts as we attempt to move forward in the days and weeks ahead."

Caldwell started 10 games in 2022 but had yet to play this season due to an injury sustained before the season started. He did not play against SFA earlier this season.

Following the 2022 season, Caldwell was named to the Southland Conference Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll, which honors student-athletes who record at least a 3.0 grade point average during their semester of competition.

"We are stunned and saddened by the sudden loss of Ronnie Caldwell," Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian said. "Ronnie was a devoted teammate, friend, brother and son. His teammates, coaches and staff members who had the pleasure of knowing Ronnie will remember his ever-present smile and the way he could light up any room when he walked in. Words truly cannot express the heartache we feel for Ronnie, his family, his teammates and our university community."

Please keep Ronnie Caldwell as well as his family, friends, and teammates in your prayers.