ADDIS, La. A homecoming prank in Addis ended with a gunshot Tuesday night. Police say a homeowner fired toward a car carrying two juveniles who had just rolled his home with toilet paper.

They had the wrong house. Police said the juveniles thought it belonged to a classmate.

Addis Police were called to the home around 9:50 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, after a report involving a firearm, according to a department media release.

The two juveniles left in a vehicle. According to the preliminary investigation, the homeowner came outside as they were leaving and allegedly fired one shot in the direction of the car. No one was hurt.

The car was hit once, Addis Police Chief Jason Langlois said Wednesday. As of Wednesday afternoon, the juveniles had not been charged, he said.

Josiah Arrington, 34, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, police said. He was booked into the West Baton Rouge Parish jail late Tuesday night. As of Wednesday afternoon, no bond had been set, according to the jail.

The investigation is ongoing. The charge is an allegation, and Arrington is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

In the release, the department warned that firing a gun over a property incident can carry serious criminal and life-threatening consequences. "Residents are encouraged to contact law enforcement rather than take matters into their own hands," the release said.

Warning came the same day

Earlier Tuesday, Addis Police had posted a homecoming safety advisory for students and parents.

The advisory said toilet paper alone "does not automatically constitute a crime." But it listed what can bring police to the door: going onto private property without permission, hitting homes, cars or yards with eggs, paint or food, tampering with someone's property, and trying to scare residents.

It also asked parents to talk with their children before homecoming activities. "A tradition should not become a criminal record," the advisory said.

Langlois estimated his department has handled roughly five to 10 homecoming-related calls this week.

Brusly police report a busy week

Next door in Brusly, police said Wednesday that officers have spent the last several nights answering homecoming calls.

In a Facebook post, the Brusly Police Department said it has received several reports of masked juveniles walking through yards at night carrying Airsoft guns. Police said groups of students have also driven through neighborhoods at high speed with their headlights off, nearly causing crashes. Homeowners have reported their vehicles being shot with BB, pellet and paintball guns from moving cars.

The department said a homeowner who sees strangers in the yard at night holding something that looks like a gun may believe the threat is real.

Officers will keep up extra patrols and take enforcement action when laws are broken, police said. "There is a difference between a prank and criminal activity," the post said.

School district responds

In a statement Wednesday, West Baton Rouge Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Chandler Smith said school administrators have talked directly with students about safety and good decision-making during homecoming.

"We encourage parents to speak with their children as well so everyone can celebrate this week responsibly and safely," Smith said. "Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of all our students."

Updated Oct. 7, 2026, to add Arrington's age and bond status, a statement from the West Baton Rouge Parish School System, and new details from Addis Police Chief Jason Langlois.