Thirteen-year-old Sha ‘Michael Russell has been remembered as a hero after losing his life while protecting his younger sister during a shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Russell was fatally wounded at the Olde Salem Village Apartments at around 6:30 p.m. on September 28.
Family members said that when gunfire broke out, Russell moved quickly to shield his younger sister. He was struck in the chest.
‘He was shielding his three-year-old sister at the park to keep her from being hit by the bullets,’ Russell’s aunt, Jessica Haley, told KSLA.
The Shreveport Police Department said Russell was one of three children shot on a basketball court at the apartment complex. The other victims, aged two and 17, survived with injuries.
Russell was rushed to a hospital but later died from life-threatening injuries. His three-year-old sister was not hurt.
Police said Javieon Abbott and Alonzo Abbott have been charged in connection with Russell’s death.
Javieon Abbott, 19, faces two counts of attempted second-degree murder.
Sha ‘Michael Russell, a 13-year-old boy, has been honored as a hero after being killed while protecting his younger sister during a Shreveport, Louisiana, shooting
Family members said Russell immediately moved to shield his younger sister when the shooting began and was struck in the chest
The Shreveport Police Department said Russell was one of three children shot on a basketball court at the 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 Sha ‘Michael, his family, and the other children who were injured never wavered,’ SPD Chief Wayne Smith wrote in a Facebook statement.
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‘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,’ Chief Wayne wrote.
Following his death, Russell was awarded the Youth Heroism Award by the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, which is 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, founder and president of the 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 Russell as a loving, playful boy and a hero. They said he helped neighbors, enjoyed sports, made people 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 said 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.