ST. GEORGE — Authorities have identified Caleb Carter, 20, as the young man who was fatally shot, and Chad Howard, also 20, as the friend now facing charges following a tragic and allegedly accidental shooting Monday evening inside the Perkins Rowe parking garage in St. George, according to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said the shooting occurred at approximately 9:20 p.m. on the second floor of the parking garage behind the Cinemark movie theater, a normally busy area that quickly became the scene of heartbreak and shock. First responders arrived to find Caleb Carter suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite emergency efforts, Carter was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to investigators, Chad Howard told deputies that he accidentally shot Carter, describing the incident as an unintended discharge of the firearm. What began as an evening among friends ended in irreversible loss, leaving families and loved ones reeling from the sudden tragedy.
Law enforcement officials stated that after the shooting, the firearm involved was thrown onto another level of the parking garage. Further investigation revealed that the gun had been previously reported stolen, adding further complications to the case. Deputies later recovered the weapon as part of their investigation.
As a result of the incident and the subsequent findings, Chad Howard was booked on multiple charges, including negligent homicide, possession of stolen things, and obstruction of justice. Authorities have not released additional details regarding what led up to the shooting or how long the two young men had known each other.
The death of Caleb Carter has left a deep void in the lives of those who knew him. At just 20 years old, his life was cut short in a moment that authorities say was not intentional, yet no less devastating. Friends and family are now left to grieve a future that will never be realized — milestones unfulfilled, memories left unfinished, and a young life remembered far too soon.
This case remains under investigation by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and additional information may be released as the legal process continues. For now, the St. George community is mourning the loss of a young man and grappling with the painful reality of how quickly a single moment can change everything.
Caleb Carter is remembered not as a headline, but as a son, a friend, and a life that mattered.