The Scott Fire Department has released the name of the person killed during a fire over the weekend in Scott.
Fire Chief Chad Sonnier identified the person who died in the fire at Scottsdale Street apartment complex as 19-year-old Ja'vante Rideaux.
Sonnier says his firefighters were called to the apartment complex at about 12:44 a.m. Sunday.
They were told by neighbors that a person, who had a disability, was still inside the fourplex, which was burning. Firefighters went inside and found the person, identified as Rideaux in a bedroom. Rideaux died from smoke inhalation, Sonnier says.
Family gathered outside the apartment building on Monday to remember the 19-year-old as a guy who always had fun
"What would he say? We oh weeoh woo! He was a cool dude," Terrance Brumfield, Rideaux's brother said.
Family members and neighbors broke windows to try and get him out of the burning unit. They say, until firefighters got there but no one was able to get to him.
According to investigators Rideaux, who used a wheelchair, died from smoke inhalation. A relative who was in the apartment at the time, made it out safely.
"I feel like if I could have been here, I could have saved him," Brumfield said.
As Rideaux's older brother, Brumfield thinks about his favorite sibling, he remembers him as a guy who always had fun.
"Jay was a fun person, but he wasn't the person to cross, even though he couldn't walk or talk, don't get on his bad side, " he recalled. "That's what I'm going to miss the most. My little brother just told me a story, where he turned on the air conditioner and Jay started throwing the dishes at him."
Only one other family lives inside the building. They were not home at the time of the fire.
"God made it to where he didn't get burnt," he said.
KATC spoke with neighbors at the scene on Sunday. They recall seeing Rideaux often.
"I see him all the time. Super nice boy. Does not let being in a wheel chair stop him. He is all over the place. So sad some one had to lose their life" Jamie Cormier, a neighbor, said.
Cormier lives in the same building. She says she was unaware of the fire until she came home to find her apartment destroyed.
No other civilians or firefighters were injured as a result of the incident. Units from Lafayette, Duson and Judice Fire Departments responded to assist with the fire.
The Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office says the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Rideuax's family and others tell KATC that the apartments did not have smoke detectors or fire extinguishers inside the unit.
KATC Investigates is looking into if any codes were violated.
A Gofundme was set up by the victims family.
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