Parents of slain N’western St. player file lawsuit
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Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff Writer
The parents of slain Northwestern State football player Ronnie Caldwell Jr. filed a wrongful death lawsuit late Friday, naming former coach Brad Laird, the state of Louisiana through the board of supervisors of Northwestern State, and the apartment complex where Caldwell lived as defendants.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court Western District Louisiana. The lawsuit includes counts of premises liability and vicarious liability, according to the complaint reviewed by ESPN.
Caldwell’s parents, Ronnie Caldwell Sr. and Blanche Bradley, announced last week they planned to file the suit in the wake of their son’s death on Oct. 12. Their announcement came a day after the school announced it was canceling the rest of the football season and that Laird, who was in his sixth year as the head coach, had resigned.
“We are aware of the lawsuit filed by the family of Ronnie Caldwell,” Northwestern State said in a statement. “While we cannot comment on the lawsuit at this time, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Ronnie’s family following this terrible tragedy.”
In early October, mold was discovered in the off-campus apartment Caldwell shared with a teammate, which resulted in him being moved to a new unit in the same complex with a non-university student roommate, according to the complaint. On Oct. 9, after a series of verbal altercations, the new roommate pulled a gun on Caldwell, the complaint said. Three days later, Caldwell was shot and died.
The roommate, John McIntosh, was arrested that day for possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance. No one has been charged with the killing.
“All I have to say is this could have been prevented,” Ronnie Caldwell Sr. said during a news conference last week. “I called the coach. I texted him and asked him, ‘Please move my son. Somebody pulled a gun. I need you to move him. Get him away from there. Get him in a hotel until I can get there. I’ll be there this weekend.’
“Next thing I know, the next phone call I get from this man is at 2:07 a.m. and my son is deceased. Now, how do you feel being a man like me? I call myself being protector. I’ve been protecting my whole family all their life and I get this call and all I asked him to do is to move my son. What’s so hard?”
Natchitoches police also arrested Caldwell’s Northwestern State teammate, Maurice Campbell II, in connection to his death for obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance.
The lawsuit requests a jury trial and seeks monetary damages to compensate for mental anguish, pecuniary loss, loss of consortium and funeral expenses among other losses.
Laird spent six seasons as an NSU assistant before becoming head coach in 2018.
“Due to the loss of Ronnie and the emotional burden it has caused me, I don’t feel I can give my all to these players or this program,” Laird said in a statement last week. “Any coach will tell you that their players become like family, so the loss of Ronnie was like losing a son. I love this program and this university and I know it will persevere and move forward with the competitive spirit that is at the core of our DNA.”
The lawyer representing Caldwell’s parents, Troy Pradia, took issue with Laird’s characterization of his relationship with Caldwell in a news conference last week.
“If he was like a son, he would’ve protected him,” Pradia said. “All his father wanted was his son to be moved to a safer location.”
The team’s assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, Weston Glaser, is currently serving as the interim head coach.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs and free agent Colin Rea have agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract, reuniting the right-hander with manager Craig Counsell, a source told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers on Friday.
The 34-year-old Rea made one appearance with Milwaukee in 2021 and then pitched in Japan during the 2022 season before returning to the Brewers. He went 12-6 with a 4.29 ERA over 27 starts and five relief appearances for the NL Central champions last year.
Counsell managed Milwaukee for nine years before he was hired by Chicago in November 2023.
Rea gives Counsell and Chicago another versatile arm for their pitching staff. The Cubs have Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd for their rotation, but Rea could push Javier Assad for the fifth spot or work out of the bullpen.
Rea became a free agent when Milwaukee declined its $5.5 million club option on his contract in November. The Iowa native was paid a $1 million buyout.
Rea was selected by San Diego in the 12th round of the 2011 amateur draft out of Indiana State. He made his big league debut with the Padres in 2015.
He pitched for the Cubs during the 2020 season, going 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in nine appearances, including two starts.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has banned two fans who interfered with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts during a World Series game at Yankee Stadium from attending games at big league ballparks.
The league sent a letter to Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen this week informing them of the decision.
“On Oct. 29, 2024, during Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, you interfered with play by intentionally and forcefully grabbing a player. Your conduct posed a serious risk to the health and safety of the player and went far over the line of acceptable fan behavior,” said the letter, the contents of which were first reported by the New York Post and later obtained by The Associated Press.
“Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball is banning you indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices, and other facilities,” the letter said. “You are also hereby banned indefinitely from attending any events sponsored by or associated with MLB. Please be advised that if you are discovered at any MLB property or event, you will be removed from the premises and subject to arrest for trespass.”
MLB has previously issued leaguewide bans for fans who trespass on the field or threaten baseball personnel. A fan who approached Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. at Colorado’s Coors Field in 2023 received a similar ban.
Capobianco and Hansen were ejected from the game on Oct. 29 and banned from Game 5 the following night.
Betts leaped at the retaining wall in foul territory and caught Gleyber Torres‘ pop fly in the first inning, but a fan in the first row with a gray Yankees road jersey grabbed Betts’ glove with both hands and pulled the ball out. Another fan grabbed Betts’ bare hand.
The Yankees at the time called the behavior “egregious and unacceptable.”
The team said Friday the two fans MLB banned were not season-ticket holders. The Post reported Friday that the person who is the season ticket holder was not at the game and will be allowed to keep them.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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