Father charged in death of toddler

A Shreveport man has been arrested in the tragic shooting death of his own son.

Shortly after 6 p.m. on February 7, 2020, Shreveport Police patrol officers were dispatched to the Country Club Hills neighborhood in west Shreveport. Officers arrived in the 3900 block of Merwin Street, where they learned a 19-month-old, Kayson Wright, had been shot while inside the home he shared with his parents.  The child, found suffering a single gunshot wound to the chest, was taken by ambulance to Ochsner LSU Hospital where he later died. An autopsy has been ordered. 

Authorities on scene detained both parents, later conducting interviews relative to the incident.  Based on preliminary findings, investigators suspect the father of the juvenile, identified as 29-year-old Derrick Wright, was mishandling a firearm when it discharged striking the child.  Wright, following subsequent interviews with detectives, was transported to the Shreveport City Jail and booked on a single count of Manslaughter.  The investigation remains active.