A 10-year-old confessed to fatally shooting a former Louisiana mayor and his daughter. Witnesses say an argument over credit card payments for video games sparked the killings.
The unidentified minor allegedly confessed to shooting Joe Cornelius, 82, and his daughter, Keisha Miles, 31, multiple times, Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said. KTBs.
“We have a confession. But in these types of cases, when you’re in it, it’s very delicate,” McIver said. “When you’re dealing with a child of this age, you know, at their stage, we look at what was their motive, what was the motive? What was the cause? [it]what the reason was, you know, since the victims were shot.
“It’s one of those things where there are still a lot of unanswered questions.”
According to KTBS, McIver described the child as “scared,” but said the child had the “mentality to commit a crime like this.”
It is unclear what relationship the boy has with the victims.
Police responded to a home on Austin Street around 6:30 a.m. Sunday after receiving reports of shots fired. Authorities found the victims inside with multiple gunshot wounds.
The unidentified minor allegedly confessed to the deaths of Joe Cornelius, 82, and his daughter Keisha Miles, 31, Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said.
Police responded to a home on Austin Street around 6:30 a.m. Sunday after receiving reports of shots fired.
Authorities found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds inside the home. Police said they “know where the gun came from” and that the minor was accompanied by his grandmother, who is his legal guardian, during questioning.
Police said they “know where the firearm came from” and that the minor was accompanied during questioning by his grandmother, who is his legal guardian.
According to McIver, the boy showed no remorse for his actions.
“I think we all know what grief looks like and what it should look like, but I just haven’t seen it,” McIver said, according to KSLA.
Neighbors heard “eight gunshots” and claimed Cornelius was arguing with the 10-year-old over credit card payments for video games, KSLA reported.
“I think that’s what happened. He was having an argument with him; I heard them yelling and stuff,” an unidentified neighbor told the outlet.
“I don’t think that was right. The boy was autistic, he had autism,” the neighbor added.
“And Joe got into a fight with him. The kid just pulled a gun. I mean, Joe used to be a sheriff, so he has guns because he worked for the sheriff’s department and the kid knows where it was. It’s a sad case.”
Police have not confirmed the relationship between the victims and the boy, or whether they had an argument before the fatal shooting.
Cornelius served as mayor of Minden in July 2013 after then-mayor Bill Robertson passed away. The 82-year-old was serving as a District A city councilman when he took over
Miles’ son, Uriah, 17, started a GoFundMe to help pay for his mother of three’s funeral and to support him and his two younger siblings
Cornelius served as mayor of Minden in July 2013 after then-mayor Bill Robertson passed away. The 82-year-old was serving as a District A city councilman when he took over. He was unsuccessful in his bid to be elected mayor for another term.
Cornelius was known for his community activism. In 1990, he founded the Concerned Citizens of Minden while he was a city councilman. KTAL said. The initiative started after a 10-year-old boy told him there was nothing to do in the summer, so the group helped organize events and scholarships.
He also worked with the Minden Black History Committee and the Head Start Policy Council.
Cornelius was also known as the “ice cream man” because he sold the dessert at a reduced price to boys when their families could not afford it.
“I remember him coming through my neighborhood about seven years ago; the boys were getting ice cream, and I didn’t have much money. They wanted things that I couldn’t afford at the time. He said, just pay what you can, but they can have whatever they want. I was afraid he was going to lose money on this. He said to me, ‘It’s not about the money, I’m doing this for the kids,'” Patti Hadland Porter recalled.
“He was unique.”
According to KTBS, Cornelius retired as a deputy sheriff with the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office in December 2022.
‘I am 17, my mother and grandfather left me on earth with my two brothers and sisters. I have to bury [sic] “My mother is alone with the help of some family,” said her son Uriah (right)
“It’s a sad situation,” McIver said. “The community is mourning the loss of Mr. Joe Cornelius.
‘Mr. Joe [was] “He’s always nice to the police, you know, always a smile, a joke, and everything. I mean, at his age, 82 years old, still traveling around, doing things. And people love Mr. Joe. Never, I’ve never heard anyone say anything negative about him,” he continued. “This is a terrible situation.”
Current Mayor Nick Cox released a statement following Cornelius’ death, writing, “Joe Cornelius’ years of service to Minden were marked by his dedication and commitment to the betterment of our community. On a personal level, I am grateful for his friendship and the many ways he supported me and others in our city.”
Miles’ son, Uriah, 17, launched a GoFundMe campaign to pay for the funeral of his mother of three and to support him and his two younger siblings.
‘I am 17, my mother and grandfather left me on earth with my two brothers and sisters. I have to bury [sic] “My mother is all alone, with the help of some relatives,” he wrote.
The heartbroken son also honored his mother via Facebook by posting a video as a tribute.
“Long live Keisha,” he wrote. “I have no words to say right now, I’m only 31 years old and your 17 year old needs to be buried. [sic] you. I’m so confused right now I don’t know what to do. We never really talked about these things. I pray that you find peace on the other side, Momma.’