A 13-year-old Louisiana boy is being remembered as a hero after his family says he used his own body to shield his little sister when gunfire erupted near an apartment complex basketball court.
Sha’michal Russell was fatally wounded during the Sept. 28 shooting at the Olde Salem Village Apartments in Shreveport.
Police said officers responded to 6725 Buncombe Road after receiving reports that multiple people had been shot near the complex’s basketball court.
Investigators determined that someone fired multiple rounds toward the court from a distance, striking three juveniles.
The victims included Sha’michal, a 17-year-old and a 2-year-old child.
The toddler suffered injuries that police described as non-life-threatening, while the 17-year-old was seriously injured. Sha’michal was rushed to a hospital in critical condition but died from his wounds shortly after 7 p.m., according to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office.
His family says his final actions were focused on protecting his younger sister.
Jessica Haley, Sha’michal’s aunt and a chaplain with the Shreveport Police Department, said the teen was playing outside with his little sister when the shooting began.
According to Haley, Sha’michal positioned himself between the gunfire and his 3-year-old sister in an effort to keep her from being hit.
His sister escaped the shooting without being struck.
Haley said there was no question in her mind that her nephew would have made the same choice again.
She described Sha’michal as a loving, helpful young man who enjoyed sports, gospel music, laughing and making jokes.
He was also known for doing small things for the people around him, including helping neighbors and taking out the trash for others.
“He was such a good young man,” Haley told local media.
Now his courage is receiving national recognition.
The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, also known as the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, announced that Sha’michal will posthumously receive its Youth Heroism Award.
The honor recognizes young people who show extraordinary courage and compassion during moments of crisis.
The organization said Sha’michal will be the first teenager to receive the award posthumously.
Foundation founder and president Daniel Chapin said the recognition is intended to make sure Sha’michal is remembered for more than the violence that ended his life.
His family, Chapin said, described a boy who deeply loved his sister and tried to protect her when she was in danger.
“He was only 13 years old. He should still be here growing up with his family,” Chapin said.
The criminal investigation has also moved forward quickly.
Police have arrested two 19-year-old men, Javieon Abbott and Alonzo Abbott, in connection with the shooting.
Javieon Abbott was initially charged with second-degree murder in Sha’michal’s death. Police later added two counts of attempted second-degree murder in connection with the two other children who were wounded.
Alonzo Abbott was later arrested and charged with principal to second-degree murder and two counts connected to attempted second-degree murder.
Authorities have said the two men are accused in connection with the shooting, but the charges remain allegations unless and until they are proven in court.
Police have not publicly released a complete account of what led to the gunfire or identified a motive.
Detectives with the Shreveport Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit continue to review evidence, interview witnesses and pursue additional leads.
Investigators have also warned that more arrests or charges could follow as they determine whether anyone else was involved.
For Sha’michal’s family, however, the focus remains on the 13-year-old they say put his little sister’s life ahead of his own.
He was a child caught in a burst of violence near a place where young people should have been able to play safely.
And in his family’s eyes, his final act showed exactly the kind of person he had always been — a protective big brother with a loving heart.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.