A 13‑year‑old Josiah Brackens of Harvey, Louisiana, was fatally shot on the afternoon of April 30, 2026, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded around 2 p.m. to the 1400 block of Angus Drive, where they found Josiah suffering from a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Doorbell camera footage captured Josiah leaving a home on Angus Drive shortly before the shooting. The video shows him stepping outside after appearing to be called out, marking the last moments he was seen alive before deputies discovered him lying on the ground.
The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office confirmed Josiah’s identity and his time of death, noting that he died from a single gunshot wound. Officials stated that the homicide remains under active investigation, and no arrests had been announced at the time of the initial reports.
Josiah’s death marks another tragedy for his family, who previously lost his 4‑year‑old brother, Johnathan, in a Harvey house fire twelve years earlier. Josiah survived that fire at age two after spending two weeks sedated in the hospital while recovering from critical injuries.
Family members described Josiah as a loving boy with a good heart and a resilient spirit. His mother shared that he had once learned to read music and had grown into a strong, smart teenager, though she had recently sensed he was struggling and possibly being influenced by peers who did not have his best interests at heart.
Community members have expressed grief and concern as investigators continue to search for answers. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information to come forward as they work to determine what led to the shooting that claimed the life of the 13‑year‑old.
