It was late Saturday night on Dorothy Street when the sirens started. For those living in the 800 block, the sound wasn't exactly a shock, but it still hits different when you find out it’s a 19-year-old kid. Curtis Dodie was found shot multiple times on January 10, 2026. He didn't make it. This latest shooting in Natchitoches LA has sparked the usual wave of Facebook arguments and neighborhood whispers, but if you actually look at the data, the story of crime in this historic town is way more complicated than a single headline.
People think Natchitoches is just meat pies and Christmas lights. It's the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase, right? You’ve got the brick streets and the riverfront. But there’s a shadow side that residents know all too well.
The Reality of Violence on the Ground
Honestly, the "shooting in Natchitoches LA" search spike usually happens after something like the Dorothy Street incident or the South Drive shooting back in November. In that case, someone was hit multiple times in broad daylight, around 11:30 AM on a Sunday. Who does that? It’s that kind of brazenness that rattles the community.
But here’s the weird part. If you talk to the Natchitoches Parish Coroner, Steven Enlow Clanton, he’ll tell you that homicides actually dropped by 60 percent over the last decade. In 2025, the parish recorded four homicides. That's a huge shift from ten years ago. So why does it feel like things are getting worse?
It’s the volume of "shots fired" calls. Even when nobody dies, the sound of 40 bullet casings hitting the pavement—which happened on Keith Drive not too long ago—changes the way a neighborhood breathes. You’ve got teenagers involved more often than not. We saw it with Matthew Daniels, a 17-year-old lost to a shooting on July Street. It’s a cycle of young men, handguns, and beefs that escalate way too fast.
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Where the Trouble Hits
Crime isn't evenly spread. You’ve got areas like Vienna Bend or the neighborhoods near Northwestern State University (NSU) that feel like a different world. Then you have the pockets where the Natchitoches Police Department (NPD) spends most of its time:
- The 800 block of Dorothy Street (recent homicide)
- Keyser Avenue (site of a mass shooting incident in July 2025 where six were hit)
- South Drive (frequent reports of shots fired)
- The Payne Subdivision (specifically Keith Drive)
The Stats Nobody Likes to Talk About
Natchitoches has one of the highest crime rates in the country for a town its size. That’s just a fact. According to NeighborhoodScout, your chance of being a victim of a crime here is about 1 in 15. That sounds terrifying, but you have to break it down. Most of that is property crime—theft, burglary, car break-ins.
The violent crime rate is about 9.48 per 1,000 residents. Compare that to the Louisiana average of 5.48. It’s significantly higher. We are talking nearly double the state average. When a shooting in Natchitoches LA happens, it’s often tied to a very small group of people who are already on the radar of the NPD Criminal Investigations Division.
Chief of Police and the Sheriff’s Office are constantly playing whack-a-mole. One week it’s a traffic stop on La. Hwy 6 East leading to a major weapons seizure, and the next, it’s a domestic dispute that turns into a standoff.
Is it Safe to Visit?
This is the big question for the tourists who flock here for the Festival of Lights. Kinda? Mostly, yes. The violence is rarely random. It’s almost always targeted. If you’re walking Front Street at 7:00 PM, you’re basically as safe as you’d be in any small town. The "bad" stats are driven by specific neighborhoods and social circles.
But for the people living in those neighborhoods, the "targeted" excuse doesn't help much when a stray bullet goes through a bedroom wall.
What’s Actually Being Done?
The city isn't just sitting on its hands. The 2025 Coroner's report mentioned that violence-prevention efforts are actually working to lower the death toll, even if the "shooting" incidents themselves still pop up. There’s a heavy focus on mental health interdictions now. In 2025, there were over 800 court-ordered mental health interventions in the parish. That’s a massive number. It shows they are trying to catch the "why" before it turns into a "who" on a police report.
The NPD also has specialized units now:
- Violent Crimes Unit
- High Tech Crimes (tracking the social media beefs that lead to shootings)
- Property Crimes
Actionable Steps for Residents and Visitors
If you're worried about the recent shooting in Natchitoches LA or just want to stay aware, here is what you actually need to do:
Check the "NPSO Latest News" Portal Regularly The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office is surprisingly transparent. They post daily updates on arrests and incidents. Don't rely on the "Natchitoches Residents" Facebook groups; the rumors there are usually 50% wrong.
Use the NATCOM 911 Center App If you hear something, report it immediately. The response time in the city limits is generally fast, but they rely on "calls for service" to map where they need more patrols.
Secure Your Property Since property crime is the "real" epidemic here (1 in 18 chance of being a victim), lights and cameras are more than just a suggestion. Most of the firearms used in local shootings are actually stolen from unlocked vehicles.
Avoid Specific "Hot Zones" After Dark Unless you live there or have business there, avoid the areas around Dorothy Street, Stella Street, and parts of the West side late at night. The data shows these are the primary locations for 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM incidents.
The reality of Natchitoches isn't found in a single statistic. It's a town of 17,000 people trying to balance a lucrative tourism industry with the very real, very modern problems of rural poverty and gun violence. It's beautiful, it's historic, and sometimes, it's dangerous. Understanding that nuance is the only way to stay safe and stay informed.
Next Steps for Awareness:
- Monitor the Natchitoches Parish Journal for the most recent police blotters and coroner updates.
- Sign up for local emergency alerts through the Natchitoches Parish Government website to get real-time info on active scenes.
- Keep a close eye on the "Crime Tracker" segments from local news outlets like KSLA or KTBS, which provide the most consistent video coverage of crime scenes in the area.