A boy died and five other people have been injured after a house in Louisiana exploded over the weekend, and investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the sudden event that caught the family completely off guard.
On Saturday, Aug. 31, a home in Ragley exploded in the morning. According to a statement from the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal, firefighters responded around 10 AM to a chaotic scene on the 1100 block of Pullin Road. Louisiana State Fire Marshal Byran Adams said first responders found the house almost totally leveled, engulfed in flames, and debris scattered about. The explosion also damaged a nearby structure and some vehicles.
Five people were rushed to the hospital, and a 16-year-old boy from Theodore, Alabama, was killed in the explosion. He was later identified as Deuce Barrere, and among the five hospitalized were his older sister, Brooklyn, and his mother, Katherine. Adams said the incident was “an unimaginable tragedy” for the family and community. In total, there were seven inside of the house when the explosion occurred; a toddler present wasn’t injured by the blast and was placed into the care of relatives, while the rest of the household were treated for their varying degrees of injuries.
Deuce was starting his junior year of high school and was a cheerleader for the school’s sports teams. Many of his classmates and friends from Theodore High School came together on Sunday, Sep. 1, for a tearful memorial on Dauphin Island to the fallen youth. Many there expressed fond memories with the teenager, referring to him as their “best friend” and the “life of the party,” and gathered to share his story in the hope that he will live on.
Deuce’s girlfriend, Adalynn Hall, said he was almost always in a good mood, save for when his room was messy. She said he went out of his way to be there for her when she was upset and others around him were happy. His best friend, Jaedin Wilson, described him as “the best person” in his life and as someone who always looked out for him.
Adams said the investigation into the explosion remains ongoing, but that a “top-notch team” is currently working on finding answers for the family and those affected.
