Explosion Destroys Louisiana Home, Kills Teen

Investigators in Ragley, Louisiana, are probing the cause of a devastating explosion that obliterated a home, killing a teenage boy from Alabama and injuring five others. The incident, which occurred Saturday morning, left the house in ruins and damaged nearby properties, including vehicles and a metal outbuilding.

The victim, Deuce Barrere, 16, of Theodore, Alabama, was a high school cheerleader whose friends memorialized him on Dauphin Island on Sunday. His older sister and mother were hospitalized, while a toddler in the home escaped injury and is being cared for by family. Louisiana State Fire Marshal Bryan J. Adams called it “an unimaginable tragedy for this family and community.”

Neighbors reported the explosion felt like an earthquake, causing power outages and knocking items off shelves in nearby homes. Ragley is approximately 20 miles north of Lake Charles. In a statement, Barrere’s girlfriend, Adalynn Hall, described his caring nature, saying, “When I was upset, he always made sure it was good before I left.” (This story was generated by Newser’s AI chatbot. Source: the AP)