Former Louisiana mayor and his daughter are killed in cold blood by ten-year-old boy after fighting over video game credit card charges

A 10-year-old confessed to fatally shooting a former Louisiana mayor and his daughter – with witnesses saying an argument over credit card charges for video games sparked the killings

Joe Cornelius, 82, and his daughter, Keisha Miles, 31, were shot multiples times by the unidentified minor, who confessed to the shooting, according Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said, according to KTBS. 

‘We’ve got a confession. But in these cases when you’re in, it’s very delicate,’ McIver said. ‘When you’re dealing with a child of this age, you know, in their stage, we’re looking at was there motive, what was the motive? What caused [it], what sparked it, you know, since the victims were shot.

‘It’s one of those things that we’ve still got a lot of unanswered questions.’ 

McIver described the child as ‘scared,’ but said the minor had the ‘mindset to commit a crime like this,’ according to KTBS. 

The boy’s relationship to the victims is unclear.

Police responded to a home on Austin Street around 6:30am on Sunday after receiving reports of shots fired. Authorities found the victims inside with multiple gunshot wounds.

Police responded to a home on Austin Street around 6:30am on Sunday after receiving reports of shots fired

Authorities found the pair with multiple gunshot wounds inside the home. Police said they ‘know where the firearm came from’ and that the juvenile had been accompanied by his grandmother, who is his legal guardian, during questioning

Police said they ‘know where the firearm came from’ and that the juvenile had been accompanied by his grandmother, who is his legal guardian, during questioning. 

McIver said the boy showed no remorse for his actions.   

‘I think we all know what grieving looks like and what it should look like and I just, you know, didn’t see it,’ McIver said, according to KSLA. 

Neighbors heard ‘eight gunshots’ and claimed Cornelius had been arguing with the 10-year-old over credit card charges for video games, KSLA reported. 

‘I think that’s what happened. He was arguing with him; I heard them hollering 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 to arguing with him. The boy just pulled a gun out. I mean, Joe used to be a sheriff, so he has guns because he worked for the sheriff’s department and the boy know where it was. It’s a sad thing.’ 

Police have not confirmed the relationship between the victims and the boy, nor if they had an argument prior to the fatal shooting.  

Cornelius served as Minden’s mayor in July 2013 after then-Mayor Bill Robertson died. The 82-year-old was serving as District A councilman when he took over

Miles’ son, Uriah, 17, started a GoFundMe to help pay for the mother-of-three’s funeral, as well as support him and his two younger siblings

Cornelius served as Minden’s mayor in July 2013 after then-Mayor Bill Robertson died. The 82-year-old was serving as District A councilman when he took over. He was unsuccessful in his bid to win election as mayor for a new term. 

Cornelius was known for his community activism, having started the Concerned Citizens of Minden in 1990 while serving as councilman, KTAL said. The initiative started after a 10-year-old boy told him there was nothing to do during the summer, so the group help organize events and scholarship funds. 

He also worked with the Minden Black History Committee and the Head Start Policy Council. 

Cornelius was also known as the ‘ice cream man’ for selling the dessert to boys for a discounted price when their families couldn’t afford it. 

‘I remember him coming through my neighborhood about seven years ago; the boys got ice cream, but I had limited money. They wanted stuff I couldn’t afford at the time. He said just pay what you can, but they can get anything they want. I was concerned that he would lose money on this. He told me: “It’s not about the money, I do this for the kids,”‘ Patti Hadland Porter recalled. 

‘He was one of a kind.’  

Cornelius retired in December 2022 from his work as a deputy marshal for the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, according to KTBS. 

‘I’m 17, my mom and grandpa have left me on the earth with my two siblings. I have to burry [sic] my mom on my own with the help of some family,’ her son Uriah (right) said

‘It’s a sad situation,’ McIver said. ‘The community is mourning the loss of Mr. Joe Cornelius.

‘Mr. Joe [was] 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,’ he continued. ‘This is a terrible situation.’ 

Current Mayor Nick Cox issued a statement after Cornelius’ death, writing: ‘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.’ 

Miles’ son, Uriah, 17, launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for his the mother-of-three’s funeral, as well as support him and his two younger siblings. 

‘I’m 17, my mom and grandpa have left me on the earth with my two siblings. I have to burry [sic] my mom on my own with the help of some family,’ he wrote. 

The heartbroken son also took to Facebook to honor his mother, posting a video tribute. 

‘Long live, Keisha,’ he wrote. ‘I don’t have any words to say right now just 31 years old and your 17-year-old has to burry [sic] you. I’m so confused right now I don’t know what to do we never really talked about these things. I pray you find peace on the other side momma.’