A 10-year-old boy confessed shooting and killing former Louisiana mayor and his daughter

A 10-year-old boy has been taken into custody after confessing to shooting and killing a former Louisiana mayor and his adult daughter in Minden, Louisiana. The victims, 82-year-old Joe Cornelius Sr. and 31-year-old Keisha Miles, were found dead with multiple gunshot wounds. The boy, who is a relative of Cornelius, is being held on two counts of first-degree murder. It is unclear whether the child has legal representation. The motive behind the shooting is yet to be determined.

The bodies of the victims were found at Cornelius’ home, and two handguns were used in the shooting. Additionally, an unrelated 6-year-old child present at the time of the shooting was unharmed. Initially, the 10-year-old boy provided a different account of the events but later confessed to the shooting. His grandmother was present at the time of the confession.

Joe Cornelius Sr., who was also a City Council member and deputy ward marshal for the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, was well-respected in the community. He had previously served as an interim mayor after the former mayor’s passing. Minden Mayor Nick Cox expressed gratitude for Cornelius’ friendship and service to the city. The tragedy has left the city in shock, and the community has come together to honor the victims’ memory and support each other through this difficult time.