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Law enforcement is investigating after a bullet was fired into the home of Coushatta Tribal Chairman David Sickey late Sunday night, narrowly missing his sleeping child, officials said.

Coushatta Tribal Police said officers responded to Sickey’s residence around 11:15 p.m. Sunday after reports of gunfire. An investigation revealed that an unknown assailant fired a bullet that penetrated the window of a bedroom where the chairman’s minor child was sleeping, according to a statement from the tribe.

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No injuries were reported, and the bullet was recovered by law enforcement.

Bullet recoverd from inside Chairman Sickey's home.

The incident remains under investigation by the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Coushatta Tribal Police, and federal agencies. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact law enforcement.

Sickey was reelected as chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, based in Elton, in June 2025. Sickey has over 18 years of tribal government experience, having previously guided the tribe through significant challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple natural disasters. Sickey previously served as chairman from 2017-2021.

The tribe, one of the largest employers in southwest Louisiana, operates the Coushatta Casino Resort and several other tribal enterprises.

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About The Author
Levi Rickert
Author: Levi RickertEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Levi "Calm Before the Storm" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at [email protected].