SHREVEPORT, LA – Authorities in Shreveport arrested a local woman after she reportedly abandoned her two young children on a city street, prompting the kids to walk miles to a relative’s home.
Laquesha Washington, 33, is accused of leaving the siblings, aged 12 and 11, near Hollywood Avenue and Broadway Avenue following an argument on Wednesday. Police say she drove off, leaving her children alone.
The two children then made their way approximately four miles to a family member’s residence on Andrew Avenue, according to a statement from the police.
The children informed law enforcement that Washington expelled them from her vehicle and drove away, leaving them to navigate the journey on foot.
Several hours after abandoning them, Washington contacted authorities to report her children missing. She met with officers at her residence on Palm Road, at which point a relative reported the children had arrived safely.
Shreveport police described the alleged abandonment as deeply troubling in their release. The incident has attracted attention due to the age of the children and the distance they were left to cover on foot.
Following an investigation, Washington was taken into custody and faces two counts of criminal neglect of family. The charges reflect the seriousness of leaving minors in a potentially dangerous situation.
In response to the incident, authorities have engaged the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services to guarantee the children’s safety moving forward. The agency is tasked with ensuring their well-being in the aftermath of the allegations against their mother.
This Washington case will continue to move through the courts and in the hands of the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services.