An 11-year-old boy is suspected of using two guns to fatally shoot a former Louisiana mayor and his daughter, Minden Police Chief Jared McIver announced Tuesday.
The victims were identified as Joe Cornelius Sr., 82, a former mayor, city council member, and deputy sheriff, and his daughter Keisha Miles, 31. Their bodies were discovered Sunday morning after a 911 call alerted police to two dead individuals in a Minden residence.
McIver said the juvenile suspect was present at the scene when officers arrived. “The juvenile gave us a story at first that just didn’t add up,” McIver stated at a news conference. The child later confessed to the killings during questioning, with an adult relative present.
Police have not disclosed a motive for the killings. “Who knows why someone would do something this malicious? And at that age,” McIver said.
The suspect, whose name is withheld due to Louisiana law regarding juvenile suspects, is being held on a $500,000 bond for two counts of first-degree murder.
District Attorney Schuyler Marvin told KTBS-TV that if convicted on the current charges, the child could be held in a juvenile facility until age 21. Louisiana law prohibits trying juveniles under 14 as adults, even for first-degree murder.
Investigators recovered two hidden weapons matching the caliber of shell casings found near the bodies. McIver declined to specify the types of firearms but said further testing is underway to confirm both were used in the slayings.
Cornelius was a longtime public servant in Minden, serving on the city council and briefly as appointed mayor in 2013. He was also involved in youth programs and local Black history events.
Minden Mayor Nick Cox praised Cornelius’s service, stating, “Joe Cornelius’ years of service to Minden were marked by his commitment and dedication to the betterment of our community.”
