A young boy, aged 11, is currently in custody after admitting to the fatal shooting of a former Louisiana mayor and his adult daughter, a police official confirmed on Monday.
The victims, Joe Cornelius Sr., 82, and his daughter, Keisha Miles, 31, were discovered dead on Sunday morning at Cornelius’ home in Minden, a city with a population of nearly 12,000 located east of Shreveport. Minden Police Chief Jared McIver reported that officers were dispatched to the scene where the bodies were found.
Chief McIver identified the boy as a relative of Cornelius but declined to disclose further details, stating that the child’s age restricts the amount of information that can be shared about his relationship with the victims. The authorities have not yet determined a motive for the crime.
Initially, the boy’s age was reported as 10, but in a Tuesday interview, McIver clarified that they had confirmed through school records that he is actually 11.
The boy is being held on two counts of first-degree murder. McIver mentioned that it is unclear if the child has legal representation at this time.
Cornelius and Miles were both found with multiple gunshot wounds. McIver revealed that two handguns were involved in the incident, with both magazines emptied during the shooting.
A 6-year-old child was present in the home during the time of the shooting but was not harmed, McIver added.
Initially, the older boy provided a different version of events, but by Sunday afternoon, he had confessed to the shootings, McIver said. Police were called to the scene around 6:30 a.m., and by noon, the boy had admitted to the crime.
The boy’s grandmother, who is also Miles’ mother, was present with him during his confession, McIver noted.
When asked about how the child obtained the guns, McIver responded, “We can’t divulge that just yet.”
McIver also remarked that the boy did not display any signs of remorse during his interview with the police. “What I would say would be remorseful — sadness, sorrowful, apology, crying — none of those things happened,” McIver said, though he acknowledged that individuals process grief in different ways.
Joe Cornelius Sr. was a prominent figure in the community, having served as a City Council member, deputy ward marshal for the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, and a community activist. In 2013, Cornelius was appointed interim mayor after the sitting mayor passed away while in office, according to NBC affiliate KTAL of Shreveport.
Minden Mayor Nick Cox released a statement on Sunday, expressing his gratitude for Cornelius’ friendship and service. “Joe Cornelius’s years of service to Minden were marked by his commitment and dedication to the betterment of our community,” Cox said, urging the community to come together to honor Cornelius’ memory and support one another during this time of mourning.
