10-year-old boy confessed to killing former Louisiana mayor and his daughter, police said

A 10-year-old boy is in custody after confessing to shooting a former Louisiana mayor and his adult daughter, a police official said Monday.

Joe Cornelius Sr., 82, and Keisha Miles, 31, were found dead Sunday morning after officers were dispatched to the former officer's home in Minden, a city of nearly 12,000 people east of Shreveport, the city's police chief said.

Police Chief Jared McIver identified the boy as a relative of Cornelius, but declined to provide further details and said authorities had not yet determined a possible motive.

“Our city is in shock,” McIver said. “How can a 10-year-old do something so evil?”

The boy is being held on two counts of first-degree murder, McIver said. He said it was unclear whether the child had an attorney to speak on his behalf.

The bodies of Cornelius and Miles were found with numerous gunshot wounds, McIver said. He said two handguns were used and their magazines were empty.

A 6-year-old child who was in the house at the time of the shooting was not injured, McIver said.

The older boy initially gave a different account of the deaths, but confessed to the shooting on Sunday afternoon, McIver said.

His grandmother was with him at the time of the confession, McIver said.

Cornelius was a well-known civic activist, city council member and deputy district marshal for the Webster Parish Sheriff's Office, NBC affiliate KTAL of Shreveport reported.

In 2013, while serving on the city council, Cornelius was appointed interim mayor after the mayor died in office, the station reported.

In a statement Sunday, Minden Mayor Nick Cox said he was grateful for Cornelius' friendship and “the many ways he has supported me and others in our city.”

“Joe Cornelius' years of service to Minden were marked by his dedication and commitment to the betterment of our community,” Cox said, adding, “Let us come together as a community to honor Joe's memory and support one another during this time of grief.”