The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner’s Office has identified 45-year-old Damien Combs as the man who died following a shooting incident outside a Hammond-area school last week. Combs sustained fatal injuries on April 14 outside the Tangipahoa Alternative Programs campus on Crystal Street, according to officials.
Authorities say the incident unfolded during a routine school drop-off when Combs’ 13-year-old son reportedly refused to exit the vehicle. Investigators allege that Combs then chose to drive away from the campus with the child still inside the car.
While the vehicle was leaving the carpool line, officials say the teenager allegedly produced a firearm and shot his father inside the car. The gunfire caused the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably, crossing the roadway before crashing into a nearby residence.
Combs was transported to a hospital where he remained for several days in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, he later succumbed to his injuries. No occupants inside the home struck by the vehicle were reported injured.
Authorities also stated that immediately after the crash, the 13-year-old exited the vehicle holding a firearm and began walking toward the school before being stopped by a school resource officer. The investigation remains active as officials continue reviewing evidence and circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Officials have not announced charges and have urged anyone with information to assist law enforcement as they work to clarify the events that led to Combs’ death and the broader sequence of actions involved.
Family members and the wider community continue to mourn the loss of Damien Combs, remembering him in the midst of a deeply complex and tragic set of circumstances. Community members have expressed shock at the incident, which has raised renewed concerns about youth violence and firearm access. Officials say support services are being made available as the investigation continues.
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