A 10-year-old boy in Louisiana is in custody after admitting to fatally shooting a former mayor and his daughter.
On Sunday (September 1), former Minden mayor and city councilmember Joe Cornelius, 82, and his daughter, Keisha Miles, 31, were found dead inside a residence, per PEOPLE. Police said the pair was shot several times by a 10-year-old boy who is in custody.
“We have the suspect in custody now,” Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said, adding “We have a confession from the suspect.”
Due to the age of the suspect, it's unclear if there was a motive. It's also unclear what the child's relationship was with the victims.
“It's one of those things that we've still got a lot of unanswered questions," McIver said.
McIver added that the child was "scared," but he appeared to have a “mindset to commit a crime like this."
The child's grandmother, who is his legal guardian, accompanied him for questioning during the investigation. It remains unclear what charges the boy is facing.
Cornelius was a well-known figure in Minden who briefly served as interim mayor in 2013. He also served as a Minden city council member and founded the Concerned Citizens of Minden, an organization that raised funds for scholarships for students.
In a statement, Minden mayor Nick Cox mourned the loss of Cornelius, who he said was his friend and a devoted politician.
“Joe Cornelius’s years of service to Minden were marked by his commitment and dedication to the betterment of our community,” Cox said.
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