As gun violence continues to plague the United States, we see more stories involving young people and guns. It’s unnerving to hear about adult gun violence, but seeing it trickling down to kids is truly terrifying. On March 31, 2026, a 13-year-old boy reportedly opened fire at a middle school track meet in Ferguson, Missouri. Gunfire struck 13-year-old LaJuan Swopes and an unidentified 15-year-old. Sadly, LaJuan died a short time later. Now local leaders, parents, and activists want change and protection for the community’s most vulnerable.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
The shooting occurred at STEAM Academy at McCluer South Berkeley High School just after 7 p.m., per a release from the Ferguson Police Department. Individuals from multiple schools were participating in a track meet on campus. The unidentified shooter ran away, but police reportedly found him a few blocks away and recovered his weapon. LaJuan died following surgery, and the 15-year-old victim remains in the hospital with serious injuries.
The shooting made plenty of people upset.
The comment section on the Ferguson Police Department’s Facebook page pointed plenty of fingers.
“Why does a child living in a city need a gun? What conditions are they under that make that a choice a child would choose?” someone asked. “The problem isn’t going to go away by addressing the children or the guns. It’s only going to go away when the underlying conditions in the community that leads to the necessity of needing a gun goes away.”…