Northwestern State football safety Ronnie Caldwell killed in early Thursday shooting

Northwestern State safety Ronnie Caldwell died after being shot near his apartment on Thursday morning, according to local police. He was 21.

Caldwell had not played in a game in 2023 for the Division I FCS team as he dealt with an injury. The Texas native began his career at a junior college in Texas.

“It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of one of our current students, Ronnie Caldwell Jr. Ronnie was a talented junior business administration major from Austin, Texas. Ronnie’s dedication to the community was truly inspiring, as evidenced by him spending the summer coaching a local youth baseball team, teaching those children the values of competition and sportsmanship,” school president Dr. Marcus Jones said in a statement.

Police are asking for information about the shooting, including potential perpetrators.

The Northwestern State game scheduled against Nicholls State for Saturday has been cancelled.

Caldwell played his first season at Northwestern State in 2022, earning Southland Conference honor roll accolades. He started 10 games and was among the Top 10 tacklers on the team.

“The Northwestern State family has suffered a tremendous loss,” football coach Brad Laird said in a statement. “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.”

Athletic director Kevin Bostian also shared condolences.

“We are stunned and saddened by the sudden loss of Ronnie Caldwell,” 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.”