Hammond Louisiana — Damien Combs, 45, lost his life after a violent morning turned deadly outside a school campus during a routine drop-off. What began as a parent taking his child to school ended in gunfire, panic, and a fatal crash that shook the local community.
The incident happened on April 14 around 7:39 a.m. outside the Tangipahoa Alternative Programs campus on Crystal Street. Authorities say Combs was in the car with his 13-year-old son and a younger pre-kindergarten child when an argument broke out in the school car line.
Officials reported that the teenager did not want to get out of the vehicle to attend school. The situation escalated quickly, drawing attention in the drop-off line. A school resource officer moved toward the area as the tension rose between father and son.
Before things could calm down, Combs made the decision to leave the campus and take his son home. As the vehicle pulled away from the car line, the confrontation took a tragic turn inside the car.
Law enforcement says the 13-year-old allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired inside the vehicle, striking his father. The gunfire caused immediate chaos as the driver lost control shortly after being hit.
The vehicle then sped across the street and crashed into a nearby home. The house was damaged in the impact, but no one inside was hurt. Despite the severity of the crash, the younger child in the car was not injured and was later placed with a family member.
After the crash, the teen allegedly got out of the vehicle still holding the weapon and started walking toward a side entrance of the school. A school resource officer intervened quickly, blocking his path, disarming him, and taking him into custody without further harm.
Combs was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment but died several days later from his injuries. The initial charge of attempted second-degree murder has since been expected to be upgraded to second-degree murder as the investigation continues.
Authorities say the case remains under active investigation as they work to understand exactly what led to the deadly confrontation inside the vehicle that morning
