A 10-year-old child in Louisiana has allegedly confessed to fatally shooting a former city councilman and his daughter, as reported by local authorities.
Police in Minden, located about 30 miles east of Shreveport, responded to a call at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday about two bodies discovered inside a home, Minden Police Chief Jared McIver informed media.
Upon arrival, responders found 82-year-old Joe Cornelius Sr. and his 31-year-old daughter, Keisha Miles, both deceased from multiple gunshot wounds.
The 10-year-old suspect, who is related to the victims, “confessed to the crime of murdering both,” according to McIver. The child’s gender has not been disclosed. The suspect was present at the home that morning and allegedly shot the victims between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m., the police chief reported.
The motive behind the tragic incident remains unclear. Two firearms that belonged to the household were discovered hidden on the property, and shell casings found at the scene matched the caliber of the recovered guns, McIver stated.
Police are now seeking the assistance of a child psychology expert to interview the suspect and help determine the appropriate next steps in the investigation.
“We still have some puzzle pieces to put together,” said McIver. “The city can rest easier knowing the suspect in this double homicide is off the streets, but there’s also the shock factor: How does a 10-year-old commit such an act? There’s a mix of relief, shock, and mourning as our community processes these events. All we can do now is handle this case to the best of our ability.”
Joe Cornelius Sr., one of the victims, was a respected longtime councilman in Minden and had also served as the appointed mayor, according to Minden Mayor Nick Cox.
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“Joe Cornelius’s years of service to Minden were defined by his unwavering commitment and dedication to improving our community,” Cox said in a statement. “On a personal level, I am thankful for his friendship and the many ways he supported me and others in our city. During this incredibly difficult time, I ask that we keep Joe’s family in our thoughts and prayers. May they find comfort and strength amid this tragedy. Let us unite as a community to honor Joe’s memory and support one another through this period of grief.”
