A Louisiana National Guard soldier was shot Tuesday evening at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans in what early reports suggest may have been an accidental discharge involving another service member.
According to reporting by WVUE Fox 8, New Orleans Police Department units responded around 6:56 p.m. on March 10 to Jackson Barracks, located at 6400 St. Claude Avenue.
Police confirmed that a man suffered a gunshot wound at the scene and was transported to a hospital for emergency treatment. Authorities have not publicly released the soldier’s condition.
An initial report obtained by Fox 8 indicated the soldier was shot in the chest and that other personnel at the scene were attempting to control the bleeding until emergency responders arrived.
Police have not announced any arrests in connection with the shooting.
A Louisiana National Guard spokesperson confirmed only that law enforcement is investigating the incident and stated there is no ongoing threat at the Jackson Barracks installation.
Early information cited by Fox 8 indicates a 911 caller reported that soldiers may have been mishandling a weapon they believed was unloaded when the discharge occurred.
Jackson Barracks serves as the headquarters for the Louisiana National Guard and hosts multiple units, including the 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery.
The incident comes weeks after another weapon-related issue involving a National Guard soldier deployed in New Orleans. On Feb. 8, a service member reportedly left a rifle unattended inside the bathroom of a Bourbon Street business.
Alleged Negligent Discharge by Field Grade Officer
The Salty Soldier has also received information about a separate alleged negligent discharge that reportedly occurred earlier this year inside a building at Jackson Barracks.
According to information obtained by The Salty Soldier, the incident occurred Jan. 24, 2026, and involved a field grade officer assigned to operations within the 1-141 Field Artillery Battalion. The battalion is commanded by Lt. Col. Michael Lacoste.
Sources indicate that a lieutenant colonel assigned to the battalion — who is not the battalion commander — allegedly fired a round inside a classroom while other soldiers were present.
No injuries were reported.
Photographs obtained by The Salty Soldier allegedly show the bullet penetrating a chair and striking a concrete wall.
A public social media post circulating among service members also claims multiple personnel were inside the room when the round was fired.
The Salty Soldier has not independently confirmed the identity of the officer involved and is withholding the name pending verification.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Louisiana National Guard have so far been unsuccessful. For more than a month, The Salty Soldier has attempted to contact the Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office, which is responsible for responding to media inquiries and providing official information to the public.
Those calls repeatedly went unanswered or routed to pre-recorded messages stating that “calls were not being accepted.”
On March 11, The Salty Soldier contacted the Louisiana National Guard Adjutant General’s office directly, where staff said they would inform Public Affairs Officer Lt. Col. Noel Collins of our request for comment.
At the time of publication, no response had been received.
Potential UCMJ Implications
Negligent discharge of a firearm inside a military facility can carry serious consequences under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Depending on the circumstances, potential violations could include:
- Article 92 – Failure to Obey an Order or Regulation, which can apply when weapons handling safety procedures are violated.
- Article 134 – Negligent Discharge of a Firearm, which addresses careless handling of weapons that endangers others or brings discredit upon the armed forces.
- Article 133 – Conduct Unbecoming an Officer, which may apply if a commissioned officer’s conduct places subordinates at risk or reflects poorly on the service.
Punishments can range from administrative reprimands to non-judicial punishment or court-martial proceedings depending on the severity of the incident and the circumstances involved.
In many cases involving junior enlisted soldiers, negligent discharges often result in swift disciplinary action including Article 15 punishment, loss of rank, or removal from positions of responsibility.
The alleged January discharge — combined with the recent shooting involving another soldier — has raised questions among some service members about weapons handling standards and accountability within the unit.
Due to the lack of response from Louisiana National Guard officials, The Salty Soldier has submitted a Freedom of Information request seeking confirmation of the alleged January negligent discharge and records indicating whether any administrative or disciplinary action was taken.
Authorities have not yet released additional details regarding the March 10 shooting at Jackson Barracks.
The Salty Soldier will update this story as additional information becomes available.
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