Authorities in Louisiana said a 10-year-old boy is being questioned after he confessed to killing former Minden mayor Joe Cornelius, 82, and his daughter Keisha Miles, 31.
According to KTBS, Cornelius previously served as a councilman for Minden and was appointed mayor of the city after Mayor Bill Robertson’s death. He held the mayoral role for multiple months.
Authorities did not disclose the relationship the unidentified minor had with the victims. Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said officers responded to a home on Austin Street on Sunday after authorities received a shots fired report. McIver said Cornelius and Miles were found with multiple gunshot wounds.
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“We’ve got a confession. But in these cases when you’re in, it’s very delicate. When you’re dealing with a child of this age, you know, in their stage, we’re looking at, you know, was there motive, what was the motive? What what causes what sparked it, you know, since the victims were shot?” McIver told the news outlet.
“I can tell you both victims were shot multiple, multiple times. And, you know, a lot of thoughts come rushing in here when, you know, you’re dealing with someone this young. How, why, where did you know? We know where the firearm came from that was used. And it’s just you know, it’s one of those things that we’ve still got a lot of unanswered questions.”
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McIver added that though the minor was “scared”, it was suspected that he had a “mindset to commit a crime like this. “But it’s it’s a sad situation. It’s just so the community is mourning the loss of Mr. Joe Cornelius, As you know, as a former mayor, amend and for a time a former councilman, a part time city marshal,” McIver continued.
“Mr. Joe is always nice to the police department, you know, just always brought a laugh joke and all. I mean, at his age, 82 years old, still getting around, doing things. And people love Mr. Joe. Never heard, I’ve never heard anybody say a negative thing about him. So and then, you know, this the female, being his daughter. This is a terrible situation.”
Cornelius was serving as District A councilman at the time of Robertson’s July 2013 death, KTBS reported. He was subsequently appointed as Minden’s mayor until elections were later held. The deceased 82-year-old, who was a well-known figure in the city, vied for the mayoral seat in the election. He, however, lost.
“It is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of Joe Cornelius Sr., a former long-time Minden City councilman and former appointed mayor of Minden,” current Mayor Nick Cox said in a statement after the double homicide.
“Joe Cornelius’s years of service to Minden were marked by his commitment and dedication to the betterment of our community. On a personal note, I am grateful for his friendship and the many ways he supported me and others in our city,” Cox added.
“During this incredibly difficult time, I ask that we all keep Joe’s family in our thoughts and prayers. May they find comfort and strength in the midst of this tragedy. Let us come together as a community to honor Joe’s memory and support one another through this time of grief.”
