A brave 13-year-old boy has been hailed a hero after he was killed while protecting his younger sister from a shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Sha ‘Michael Russell died following a shooting at Olde Salem Village Apartments complex around 6:30 pm on September 28th.
When the shooting erupted that night, family members reported that Russell immediately jumped over to shield his younger sister and protect her before being shot in the chest.
‘He was shielding his three-year-old sister at the park to keep her from being hit by the bullets,’ Jessica Haley, Russell’s aunt told KSLA.
According to Shreveport Police Department (SPD), Russell was one of three children who were shot on a basketball court at their apartment complex. The others were aged two and 17 years old and suffered injuries.
Russell was taken to the hospital where he died from life-threatening wounds. His sister was unharmed in the shooting.
According to SPD authorities, Javieon and Alonzo Abbott were charged in Russell’s death.
Javieon Abbott, 19, has been charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder.
Sha ‘Michael Russell, a brave 13-year-old boy has been hailed a hero after he was killed while protecting his younger sister from a shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana
When the shooting erupted that night, family members reported that Russell immediately jumped over to shield his younger sister and protect her before being shot in the chest
According to Shreveport Police Department (SPD), Russell was one of three children who were shot on a basketball court at their Olde Salem Village apartment complex
Alonzo Abbott, 19, has been charged with one count of principal to second-degree Murder and two counts of Principal to Attempted Second-Degree Murder.
‘From the moment this case began, our detectives’ determination to find justice for Shamichael, his family, and the other children who were injured never wavered,’ SPD Chief Wayne Smith wrote in a Facebook statement.
‘They worked nonstop through the night and throughout the day, following every lead and using every available resource until the person responsible was in custody,’ wrote Chief Wayne.
Since his passing, Russell has been honored with the Youth Heroism Award from the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, also known as the Uvalde Foundation.
‘Sha ’Michael’s family has told us about a boy who loved his little sister and tried to protect her,’ Daniel Chapin, the founder and President of Youth Peace & Justice Foundation told KSLA.
‘He should still be here growing up with his family. We want to recognize the courage his family described and make sure people remember Sha ’Michael for the life he lived and the person he was.’
His family described him as a ‘hero’ who was a loving and playful boy. They told the outlet he helped his neighbors, loved sports, made others laugh and cared deeply for his sister.
‘Sha ’Michael will be the first teenager to receive the Foundation’s Youth Heroism Award posthumously,’ the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation wrote in a social media statement.
Javieon Abbott, 19, has been charged with two counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder
Alonzo Abbott, 19, has been charged with one count of Principal to Second-Degree Murder and two counts of Principal to Attempted Second-Degree Murder
The foundation started an emergency fundraiser to support the Russell family with their funeral expenses and any financial hardships resulting from his unexpected death.
‘We want the money raised for these families to actually get to these families. We’re going to take the time to verify who we need to work with and how the funds should be delivered, and then we’ll get the assistance where it is needed,’ Chapin told the outlet.
The Shreveport Police Department has asked anyone with information to contact their office directly or submit an anonymous tip to Shreveport-Caddo Crime Stoppers.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Mary L Harried, the Chief District Public Defender of Caddo Parish, for comments on behalf of Javieon and Alonzo Abbott.
The Daily Mail has also contacted Shreveport Police Department for comments as the investigation is ongoing.
