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Caldwell, 21, was shot multiple times just
after 1 a.m. local time at an apartment complex near the
university campus, the Natchitoches Police Department told USA
Today. The police department also told USA Today that it has a
person of interest in Caldwell's death.
Northwestern State (0-5, 0-1 Southland) canceled its game
Saturday at Nicholls in Thibodaux, La., and said in a statement
that decisions regarding the remaining games on the schedule
will be made as the season progresses.
"The Northwestern State family has suffered a tremendous loss,"
head 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 115th on our roster."
Caldwell was injured in preseason camp, but he served as a de
facto assistant defensive coach on the sideline and traveled
with the team.
A business administration major from Austin, Texas, Caldwell
attended Cedar Park High School and Tyler (Texas) Junior College
before transferring to Northwestern State. He totaled 42
tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, in starting 10 of 11
games.
He was selected to the 2022 Southland Conference Commissioner's
Fall Honor Roll after recording a grade-point average of at
least 3.0 during the football season.
"We are stunned and saddened by the sudden loss of Ronnie
Caldwell," Northwestern State 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."
--Field Level Media
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