A 13-year-old boy in Louisiana was killed while protecting his younger sister from gunfire at an apartment complex, according to police. Sha’Michael Russel jumped on top of his sister when shots were fired near the basketball court at Olde Salem Village Apartments in Shreveport last week, as reported by KSLA. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Shreveport Police Department chaplain and Sha’Michael’s aunt, Jessica Haley, stated, "He was shielding his 3-year-old sister at the park to keep her from being hit by the bullets. He is a hero, a loving heart. He is a hero. He shielded his own sister."
In addition to Sha’Michael, a 2-year-old and a 17-year-old were also shot, according to Shreveport police. Sha’Michael’s sister was unharmed, and as of a week later, no arrests have been made.
Haley, who has served as a chaplain with the Shreveport police for decades, mentioned that she is relying on faith to support her family during this difficult time. "I’m staying strong through the help of the Lord. The same encouragement I have to give them to tell them to pray, to keep their faith, is the same thing I have to preach to myself," she said.
Sha’Michael is set to receive the Youth Heroism Award posthumously from the national Youth Peace & Justice Foundation in recognition of his bravery. Daniel Chapin, founder and president of the foundation, stated, "Sha’Michael’s family has told us about a boy who loved his little sister and tried to protect her. He was only 13 years old. 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."
The foundation has initiated a fundraiser to assist Sha’Michael’s family with funeral and memorial expenses. Additional funds may also provide emergency support to the two surviving victims and their families. The organization is offering a separate reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the individual responsible for the shooting.
Sha’Michael’s death is recorded as Shreveport’s 38th confirmed homicide of 2026. Haley commented, "It’s another child: another child, Shreveport. Blood is on the ground. And it’s my mission, even before it hit home, that we start to pray."