Shreveport family mourns 14-year-old killed in weekend shooting; police highlight domestic violence rise

Family members remembered Makayla as a kind, caring teenager who loved basketball, cooking and spending time with her siblings.

"We love her. We miss her," her grandmother said.

Her grandmother and cousin, who declined to appear on camera, described Makayla as a sweet, easygoing girl who was loved by everyone who knew her.

"All of our friends loved her. She was sweet, loved to cook," the grandmother said. "She was very calm. She really went with the flow."

Family members also said Makayla cherished her older brother and younger sister.

Investigators continue to work to determine what led to the shooting at a home on Legardy Street in Shreveport's Martin Luther King neighborhood. The teenage suspect was taken into custody shortly after the shooting and remains in juvenile detention.

Makayla's death was one of two deadly domestic violence-related shootings involving young people in Shreveport over the weekend.

In a separate case, Byron Starks, 23, died after being shot during a fight in the Windermere neighborhood. Police arrested his brother, Kobe Starks, 19, on a charge of second-degree murder.

Shreveport police Cpl. Chris Bordelon said both cases underscore a troubling trend.

"In both of these cases, we're seeing individuals going to guns to solve disputes," Bordelon said.

He added that domestic violence remains one of the city's most significant public safety concerns.

"The reality is, in the city limits of Shreveport, you are much more likely to be seriously injured or killed by a relative than you are by a random act of violence," Bordelon said. "That should really drive home the fact that we have a real problem with domestic violence. We have a problem with young people not being able to resolve conflict without violence."

Neighbors told reporters they had not observed previous problems between the Starks brothers before Saturday's shooting.

Meanwhile, the Caddo Parish School District told police it's moving forward with its grief counseling response to support Makayla's classmates and teachers as they prepare for the start of the school year.

Her family continues to mourn the loss of a life cut short.

"She was a very good kid," one relative said. "It's a tragedy."

Police also clarified earlier information released about the investigation. Authorities initially identified the suspect as Makayla's brother, but later determined the two were not biologically related; instead, he's the son of a friend of the family. 

It will be up to the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office to determine whether the young teen will be prosecuted as an adult.

Shreveport City Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor also issued a statement following the shooting, saying in part, "My hope is that we also recommit ourselves to building a safer community where fewer families have to experience this kind of unimaginable heartbreak."