MERAUX, La. — The St. Bernard Sheriff's Office responded to a call on Sunday night that involved a 13-year-old fatally shooting himself by accident.
Sheriff James Pohlmann said the incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. in the 4500 block of East St. Bernard Highway in Meraux.
Deputies found the teen suffering from the gunshot wound and immediately transferred him to a hospital where he later died from his wounds.
Investigators say the teen was handling a firearm and it accidentally discharged, critically injuring him.
Sheriff Pohlmann, who described the teen as a model student, said this is a tragic loss for the family and our community.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the young man,” he said. “They are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
On Monday afternoon, N.P. Trist Middle School posted a statement on Facebook about the death of 8th grader Wyatt Oser.
"It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of one of our students, Wyatt Oser, an 8th grader at Trist Middle School was involved in an accidental shooting in his home last night," the statement read. "He was transferred to a local hospital where he sadly succumbed to his injuries. Sheriff’s Office detectives said the teen was handling a firearm, and it accidently discharged.
"We are deeply saddened by this news and are praying for him, his family, and the entire Trist school community during this difficult time," the post continued.
"We will have our district crisis response team of counselors and social workers will be on the Trist campus this week, offering grief counseling and support for the students and staff. If you feel your child is in need of additional assistance from our School Counselor, Mrs. Kreps, or our School Social Worker, Mrs. Bourgeois, please email them at TRISTCOUNSELOR@SBPSB.ORG"
The family of Oser sent a statement about his passing on Tuesday.
“On behalf of the family, we would like to thank everyone for the incredible support, prayers and words of endearment during this time. Wyatt was a compassionate, cheerful and curious young man. His personality was bright and bold, and he was determined to make everyone around him laugh. He had an immense love for sports, and he was a wonderful and positive teammate. He spent his free time fishing with his friends, and he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his family. We will miss him dearly. Please respect our wishes for privacy at this time as we mourn the loss of our beloved Wyatt.”
Practicing firearm safety is essential to preventing tragedies such as this, the Sheriff said.
“One of the most effective ways to ensure safety is by keeping guns securely stored and out of sight, especially in homes with children or young adults,” he said.
Sheriff Pohlmann also stressed the use of gun safes or purchasing affordable gun locks which can significantly reduce the risk of accidental discharges or unauthorized access to firearms.
“By taking these simple precautions, you can help protect your loved ones and promote a safer community,” the Sheriff said.
A GoFundMe was created for the Oser. Click to support the family here.
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