A tragic shooting inside a Shreveport home has left a 14-year-old girl dead and her 13-year-old brother facing a second-degree murder charge, according to authorities.
The victim has been identified as 14-year-old Makayla Pennywell, whose life was cut short after she suffered a gunshot wound to the head at her family’s home on LeGardy Street. The incident occurred on Sunday, August 2, prompting a rapid response from officers with the Shreveport Police Department.
Police said they received a call reporting the shooting at approximately 2:30 p.m. Officers arrived at the residence within minutes and found Makayla suffering from a critical gunshot wound to the head. Emergency medical personnel immediately began life-saving efforts at the scene before transporting her for further medical treatment. Despite those efforts, she later died from her injuries.
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office confirmed Makayla’s identity and officially ruled her death part of an ongoing homicide investigation. Her death has left family members, friends, classmates, and neighbors mourning the loss of a young girl whose future was only beginning.
Authorities say the person accused in the shooting is Makayla’s own 13-year-old brother. Following the investigation at the scene, officers arrested the juvenile and charged him with second-degree murder. Because of his age, his identity has not been publicly released. He was transported to a juvenile detention center, where he remains in custody as the legal process moves forward.
Investigators have not publicly disclosed what events led to the fatal shooting or whether the incident stemmed from an argument, an accidental handling of a firearm, or another set of circumstances. Officials have also not released information regarding how the firearm was obtained or who owned it. Those questions remain central to the ongoing investigation.
Detectives spent hours processing the scene, collecting physical evidence, interviewing witnesses, and documenting the circumstances surrounding the shooting. As investigators continue their work, they are attempting to establish a complete timeline of events and determine exactly what occurred inside the home before the fatal gunshot was fired.
Law enforcement officials have emphasized that the investigation remains active. Additional evidence, forensic testing, and witness interviews are expected to help investigators better understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities have indicated that more information will be released as the investigation progresses and facts are confirmed.
Makayla’s death has shaken the Shreveport community, where many are struggling to comprehend how such a devastating tragedy could unfold within a family home. The loss of a 14-year-old has prompted renewed conversations about firearm safety, secure gun storage, and the importance of preventing children from gaining unauthorized access to firearms.
As loved ones grieve, many are remembering Makayla as a young girl with dreams, potential, and an entire future ahead of her. Instead, her life ended in an act of violence that has forever changed her family and those who knew her.
The Shreveport Police Department continues to investigate every aspect of the case. Detectives are urging anyone with information that may assist the investigation to contact authorities. Until the investigation is complete, many questions remain unanswered, and the circumstances leading to the fatal shooting have yet to be fully explained.