
(Scypre.com) – An 11-year-old boy is currently in custody after admitting to fatally shooting 82-year-old Joe Cornelius Sr., a former mayor of Minden, Louisiana, and his 31-year-old daughter, Keisha Miles. The grim discovery was made on Sunday morning when police officers were dispatched to Cornelius’ home in Minden, a city located east of Shreveport.
Both victims were found with multiple gunshot wounds, and two handguns were recovered at the scene, each with emptied magazines, according to Police Chief Jared McIver.
The boy, who is related to the victims, initially provided an alternate account of the events. However, by Sunday afternoon, he had confessed to the killings. Chief McIver confirmed that the boy was 11 years old, a detail verified through his school records after an initial report suggested he was 10. The young suspect now faces two counts of first-degree murder.
McIver noted that the boy showed no signs of remorse during the police interviews. “What I would say would be remorseful — sadness, sorrowful, apology, crying — none of those things happened,” McIver commented, while acknowledging that people grieve differently.
A 6-year-old child was present in the home at the time of the shooting but was unharmed. The boy’s grandmother, who is also the mother of Keisha Miles, was with him when he confessed to the crime. The police have not yet determined a motive for the killings, and McIver declined to provide further details on how the boy gained access to the firearms.
Joe Cornelius Sr. was a respected figure in the Minden community. He was a longtime community activist, City Council member, and deputy ward marshal for the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office. In 2013, Cornelius was appointed as the interim mayor of Minden following the death of the sitting mayor. His commitment to public service and the betterment of the community left a lasting impact on the city.
Minden Mayor Nick Cox released a statement on Sunday, expressing his sorrow and gratitude for Cornelius’ contributions to the community. “Joe Cornelius’s years of service to Minden were marked by his commitment and dedication to the betterment of our community,” Cox said. He urged the community to come together to honor Cornelius’ memory and support one another through this difficult time.