New Orleans, La. -
A Central City murder almost kept two young boys from living up to their dreams.
Wednesday night, someone shot and killed an 18-year-old man, just steps from the boys' home and minutes before they were about to head to little league football.
"Everyday we practice from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Unfortunately yesterday we got a call from one of the parents, saying that her sons wouldn't be able to attend practice because it was a shooting in front of the house," said little league coach Lester Zeigler.
8-year-old Darrell Demesme and his 5-year-old brother weren't planning on coming to practice Thursday evening.
"'Cause maybe they were going to shoot me or something, and I was scared to walk," said Demesme.
New Orleans police say 18-year-old Dionte Lewis was found dead Wednesday night, lying in a driveway in the 2800 Block of Magnolia St., just steps from their front door.
"It was so loud, and I was scared of it," said Demesme. "They was shooting down there, and then I was still going to football practice."
The shooting happened a few blocks from A.L. Davis Park. Coach Zeigler says some of the kids made it to the park before police even arrived on the scene.
"I mean I can see it in their eyes now, they're still affected," said Demesme.
For Thursday's practice, Coach Zeigler wanted to make sure that two of his youngest players made it to practice safely.
"So here we are. Today is the next practice, and we're here to pick him up, just to assure him and let him know he's not in this by himself. Just because a tragedy happened in front of his door, it shouldn't dictate what he decides to do from here on out," said Zeigler.
So as a team, they walked to A.L. Davis Park, in solidarity.
"The way I looked at it immediately, it was the first step in losing a kid who was not moving in the wrong direction," said Coach Zeigler. "He was making his decisions based on fear."
Now, with a coach's motivation, a group of young boys stands up against violence in their community.
"We need to tell all of New Orleans to stop the violence," said one of the little leaguers.
New Orleans police are still searching for the gunman in Wednesday's shooting. Witnesses tell police they saw a black late-model Acura speeding from the area. If you have any information that can help police, call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
