ABBEVILLE, La. (KLFY) — Ellen Cooper is living every parents’ worst nightmare after losing her 24 year old son Bailey Dubois to gun violence.

Cooper spoke exclusively with News 10’s Rodricka Stevens to share an emotional message demanding change and share just how the senseless gun violence in her community has impacted her family. 

“It has to stop, stop killing everybody’s baby,” Cooper said.

Cooper recalled getting a message from Kendra Briggs who is the girlfriend of her son Bailey informing her that her son was shot. Cooper said immediately she panicked and called her family members. The family went to the hospital but Bailey died because of his gunshot injuries. 

Briggs shared details on the tragic night. She said she remembered them walking to the store and were met with a driver passing with bright lights on.

“They had their bright lights on kept; blinking and he [Bailey] asked nicely, ‘why do you have your headlights on?’” Briggs recalled.

Briggs said after that question a 15 year old boy who was with the driver of the vehicle got into an argument questioning Bailey about what he asked the driver. 

“He [the teen] got out the truck and my boyfriend was like i’m just asking why you got your headlight beams on and that’s when the dude started holding his gun and I’m like please don’t do that to him and that’s whenever he [Bailey] started backing up asking don’t do it please,” Briggs explained. 

Briggs said she remembers her and her boyfriend running for their life and being chased by the teenager. 

“I screamed his name multiple times and I didn’t hear a response so I ran to where I saw him last,” Briggs said. 

Briggs unfortunately found her boyfriend shot and bleeding. She said she contacted 911 and messaged her boyfriend’s mother. She added she tried giving life saving measures to him, pleading him to stay with her. 

“I tried my best,” she expressed emotionally 

“I feel like this child didn’t have guidance and he fell off and I can’t say it’s not his fault because he’s 15. He knows right from wrong,” said Cooper. 

Cooper grieving said she will never get her son back but calls for action. 

“The boy that did it is a baby. It doesn’t change the fact that he knew. He knew what he was doing and it needs to stop. I want the world to know my baby’s name.” Cooper cried. “Every mother that has lost a baby I want the world to know their names. This has to stop. It has to stop and it’s going to stop with my baby. The world is going to know my baby was a good person. He will forever be remembered as a good person that was taken away senselessly by someone else’s child.”

The family said Dubois was a sweet person. He was loving, caring, and didn’t do drugs or alcohol. He worked and went home. He dreamt of owning a restaurant. They were recently informed the couple was expecting a child. 

“Him and Kendra walked everywhere because they didn’t have a vehicle yet. They were getting their life together. He took such good care of Kendra and he made me so proud.” Cooper said.

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