NEW ORLEANS - On Sunday afternoon, a 16-year-old accused of attacking his father died while he was in custody, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's deputies said. 

The teen, who a family friend described as 'severely autistic,' had been arrested for allegedly repeatedly biting his father.

According to WWL-TV, it all started outside of a Metairie laser tag facility, near the intersection of Veterans and Power Boulevards.

Bystanders called authorities to say they saw one man was attacking another.

Once deputies arrived, they apprehended the teenager and report that he resisted arrest, even biting one of the deputies.  

The spokesman said while the 16-year-old was being arrested, he suddenly seemed to have some sort of medical emergency and "became unresponsive." 

Paramedics took the teen to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

Ricky Dillard, the general manager of the laser tag facility where the incident occurred, confirmed that the young man had 'special needs.'

Dillard told WWL-TV, "He was a long time guest and a lot of our crew members have personal relationships with him and his family. It’s not easy. I wish we could give the parents a big hug.”

Dillard also explained that he and his staff had fond memories of the teen, saying, "He loved being in our facility. He loved the bumpers cars and bowling alley. We all made a point of communicating with him because he was learning from this experience.”

The Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office is expected to conduct an autopsy, Tuesday, to determine the exact cause and manner of death.