The parents of Devin Page Jr., the 3-year-old boy who was fatally struck by a stray bullet while sleeping in bed on Tuesday, April 12, have confirmed that LSU and NBA great Shaquille O’Neal will take care of the funeral expenses.
The toddler had just started preschool and loved playing with his siblings, family members said.
Baton Rouge Police Department officials said the shooting occurred on Fairfields Avenue near North Foster Drive just after 11:00 p.m. Police said Devin Page Jr. was hit by a stray bullet while lying in bed. Investigators added the child died at the scene.
Mayor Sharon Weston Broome had called for peace following the tragedy. She issued the following statement:
“The tragic overnight killing of a young child on Fairfields Avenue is a sad reminder that our community has a long way to go in addressing gun violence. This tragedy is beyond unacceptable. Someone in our community knows who is responsible and they must come forward. At this moment our community needs to refocus. Beginning Good Friday I am calling for a Week of Peace. Week over week community members join together in planning activities of hope, but there is a small percentage that still continue to choose violence. I implore individuals to settle their disputes with words rather than with violence. The outcomes from choosing violence are never hopeful. Choose hope and choose peace.”
