The family of Ronald Caldwell Jr., the Northwestern State University football player who was killed earlier this month, held a news conference in Houston on Friday alongside their legal representatives to announce potential litigation against the university, its former coach and the apartment complex where Caldwell lived and was killed, among other possible parties.
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“It’s our position that a number of failures happened here,” said Helen Daniel Holman, a member of the Caldwell family’s legal representation. “First, we feel that Northwestern State University failed to protect Ronald Caldwell Jr. We also feel that the Quad Apartment Complex where he was residing failed to protect Ronald Caldwell Jr. And most importantly, we feel that Coach (Brad) Laird failed to protect Ronald Caldwell Jr … We’re seeking accountability and justice.”
The 21-year-old Caldwell Jr., a junior safety from Cedar Park, Texas, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of October 12. The news conference held Friday comes a day after Northwestern State, located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, announced it would cancel the rest of its 2023 football season and that former coach Brad Laird resigned after six years leading the Demons’ football program. Northwestern State is an FCS program and member of the Southland Conference.
“I’ve never seen a school cancel a season and a coach resign because of something like this,” said Troy Pradia, another member of the Caldwell family’s legal representation. “This is a strange situation. There are a lot of unanswered questions, so we want to get to the bottom of this.”
In a statement provided to The Athletic, Northwestern State University president Dr. Marcus Jones said: “We are aware of today’s press conference held by the Caldwell family. The cause of Caldwell Jr.’s death is still under active investigation by the Natchitoches Police Department, and it would be inappropriate for us to comment or speculate at this time. The police have our full cooperation and support. We continue to send our deepest condolences and sympathy to the Caldwell family, and we remain focused on helping our student-athletes and the broader NSU community to heal from this tragedy.”
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The family’s legal team said Friday that Caldwell Jr. informed his father, Ronald Caldwell Sr., that his roommate pulled a gun on him on the night of October 9. Caldwell Sr. claims he called and texted Laird to get his son moved out of the apartment at The Quad apartment complex, which is across the street from the university.
Caldwell Sr. said Laird told him he would move his son immediately, but never did. Three days later, Caldwell Jr. was killed.
“They didn’t even try. They didn’t do nothing,” Caldwell Sr. said. “You just gave them the ball and they just fumbled it. That’s what happened.”
Blanche Caldwell, Caldwell Jr.’s mother, said she believes “the school failed my son.” The family and its representatives also raised questions pertaining to The Quad being a pseudo-student housing complex that also housed non-students. At around 1:08 a.m. on the morning of October 12, the Natchitoches Police Department responded to a call of gunshots at The Quad complex. Upon arriving, they found Caldwell Jr. having suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased by the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office as a result of his injuries.
While no charges have been filed yet and no suspects have been named, Natchitoches police have arrested two men in connection with Caldwell Jr.’s death. John McIntosh, Caldwell Jr.’s 27-year-old roommate who Caldwell Jr. told his father pulled a gun on him, was arrested on October 12 for possession of a firearm in presence of a controlled substance. Eight days later, Natchitoches police arrested Caldwell Jr.’s former Northwestern State teammate, 22-year-old Maurice Campbell II, for obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance, according to police records.
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Campbell was a junior nose tackle for the Demons. His online bio on the athletic department’s website was removed as of Thursday.
“The Natchitoches Police Department is vigorously investigating the homicide of Ronald Caldwell that took place Thursday morning (Oct. 12) on University Parkway,” the department stated in a previous release. “Detectives working the crime scene were able to recover several pieces of physical and digital evidence that will be sent to a crime lab for forensics.”
Pradia explained Friday that in the spring, Caldwell Jr.’s previous apartment at The Quad was found to have mold, which made him ill. Caldwell Jr. was living with another football player at the time. Caldwell Jr. was eventually moved to a new apartment in the complex to live with McIntosh, who, according to reports, was charged for attempted second-degree murder back in 2014.
Caldwell Jr. also allegedly informed “a marshal” prior to informing his father about his roommate pulling a gun on him.
“We’re unclear on what marshal this was,” Pradia clarified later Friday afternoon to The Athletic. “We know that it was an official report.”
Northwestern State canceled its game against Nicholls immediately following Caldwell Jr.’s death. But the Demons returned to the field and played Southeastern Louisiana last Friday, a 37-20 loss to fall to 0-6.
“Ronnie was a beloved member of our community, and we miss him dearly,” president Jones said in a statement released on Thursday. “While our instinct was to return to the field of play following his death, we’ve since learned that the hurt on our team was too deep. Now it is in the best interest of our players, coaches, and staff to pause and to take this time to mourn, to heal, and to support Ronnie’s family.”
Prior to transferring to Northwestern State, Caldwell spent two seasons at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. Thomas Rocco, Caldwell’s coach at Tyler JC, told The Athletic on Friday Caldwell Jr. was the type of person “to give anyone the shirt off his back.” Rocco, now an assistant coach at Sam Houston State, added Caldwell Jr. made an impact on everyone he got to know.
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“In college, everyone is an exceptional player,” Rocco said, “but he was also an exceptional person and very much himself.”
The family’s legal representation is awaiting the findings of the investigation into Caldwell’s death before formally pursuing any legal action.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” said Daniel Holman. “The point of today was to address the recent resignation of Coach Laird and focus for the family on the accountability and justice that we’re seeking on their behalf.”
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(Photo: Bobby McDuffie / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)