Acadiana Dad Says Homecoming Prank Crossed The Line

A homecoming tradition familiar to generations of Louisiana students is once again raising questions about where harmless fun ends and dangerous behavior begins.

This time, the conversation is hitting close to home in Acadiana.

Darryl Elliott, whose daughter is a cheerleader at Acadiana High School, posted a video to Facebook this week describing what he says happened at his home during a homecoming prank Sunday.

Elliott said he can live with the traditional toilet papering of a house. What he says happened beyond that is where he draws the line.

According to Elliott, several young men wearing masks and carrying paintball guns came onto his property. He said his daughter was struck with a paintball during the incident.

Elliott said his daughter did not want to pursue the matter and he does not intend to file a complaint over the paintball incident. However, he stressed that shooting people with paintball guns is not something that should be dismissed as a harmless prank.

Father Says Prank Continued Into Backyard

Elliott said the situation escalated when the group entered his backyard.

According to his account, items around the property were thrown into his swimming pool, including tables. He said a punching bag was ruined and his pool liner was damaged.

Elliott said his concern goes beyond the cost of replacing damaged belongings.

In his video, he asked parents to consider what a homeowner sees when people wearing masks enter a backyard at night and begin damaging property.

Elliott said he did not know in that moment that the people on his property were young people participating in a homecoming prank.

His message was clear: the situation could have ended much differently.

Dad Says He Wants Parents To Contact Him

Despite the damage, Elliott said his first choice is not to pursue criminal charges.

Instead, he publicly provided his phone number and asked the parents of those involved to contact him so the situation could be handled as a teachable moment.

He acknowledged that young people make bad decisions and said he would rather see those involved take responsibility and learn from what happened.

However, Elliott also said there is a limit to that patience.

As of Friday morning, October 2, Elliott said neither the individuals allegedly involved nor their parents had contacted him.

If the matter cannot be resolved with the families, he said he is prepared to pursue charges.

Louisiana Police Are Warning About Homecoming Pranks

The incident comes as law enforcement agencies across Louisiana are issuing unusually strong warnings about homecoming pranks.

Westlake Police temporarily canceled all homecoming "rolling" activities after what Chief Christopher Wilrye described as criminal behavior and property damage. Police warned that students caught participating could face arrest.

The tradition was later allowed to continue under stricter rules, according to a subsequent department announcement provided on its Facebook page: toilet paper only, with no vandalism, property damage or other materials permitted.

The debate is playing out elsewhere in Southwest Louisiana as well. Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford told KPLC that his office has received calls from residents concerned about rolling. He said past incidents have included property damage and eggs being thrown at vehicles, while emphasizing the importance of respecting homeowners and their property.

St. Landry Sheriff Warns After Gunfire Strikes Deputy's Home

A far more serious incident prompted a warning this week from St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz.

According to the sheriff, students from a nearby high school allegedly drove past homes over the weekend and discharged firearms.

Guidroz said a deputy's home was struck multiple times, including a wall near where the deputy's one-year-old daughter was lying. He warned that what may begin under the umbrella of homecoming mischief can have devastating consequences when firearms or other dangerous behavior become involved.

The sheriff urged parents to speak with their children before homecoming celebrations and stressed the difference between traditional pranks and actions that could result in criminal charges.

St. Martin Parish Issues Similar Homecoming Warning

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office has also urged students to keep homecoming traditions safe and respectful.

In a social media message, the agency warned that entering private property without permission, particularly at night, creates safety concerns because students may have no idea how a homeowner will react.

The department also reminded students that covering property with toilet paper or other materials can create problems when a prank results in trash, damage or trespassing.

That warning almost sounds identical to Elliott's concern following the incident at his Acadiana home.

For the local father, the issue is not simply whether teenagers should be allowed to toilet paper someone's yard during homecoming week. It is what happens when people in masks enter private areas of a home, damage belongings or use something capable of hurting another person.

And it leaves parents and students across South Louisiana with a debate that always pops up on social media this time of year:

Where exactly is the line between a prank and vandalism?