A 10-year-old boy is in custody after him admitted to the shooting deaths of a former Louisiana mayor and his adult daughter, a police official said Monday.
Joe Cornelius Sr., 82, and Keisha Miles, 31, were found dead Sunday morning after officers were dispatched to the former officer’s home in Minden, a city of nearly 12,000 residents east of Shreveport, the city’s police chief said.
Police Chief Jared McIver identified the boy as a relative of Cornelius but declined to provide further details, saying authorities have not determined a possible motive.
“Our city is in shock,” McIver said. “How does a 10-year-old commit something so malicious?”
The boy is being held on two counts of first-degree murder, McIver said. He said it was unclear whether the child has an attorney to speak on his behalf.
The bodies of Cornelius and Miles were found with multiple gunshot wounds, said McIver, who said two handguns were used and their magazines were emptied.
A 6-year-old child who was in the home at the time of the shooting was not injured, McIver said.
The older boy initially gave a different account of the deaths but did so on Sunday afternoon admitted to the shooting, McIver said.
His grandmother was with him at the time of the confession, McIver said.
Cornelius was a well-known community activist, city council member and deputy division marshal for the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, NBC affiliate KTAL of Shreveport reported.
In 2013, while serving on the city council, Cornelius was named interim mayor after the mayor died in office, the station reported.
In a statement Sunday, Minden Mayor Nick Cox said he was grateful for Cornelius’ friendship and “the many ways he supported me and others in our city.”
“Joe Cornelius’ years of service to Minden were marked by his dedication and commitment to the betterment of our community,” Cox said, adding, “Let’s come together as a community to honor Joe’s memory and support each other through this time of grief.”
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