Family remembers 13-year-old Shreveport shooting victim as hero

SHREVEPORT, La. -- The family of 13-year-old Sha’michal Russell is remembering him as a loving, playful child who died while protecting his younger sister during Monday night’s shooting in Shreveport.

Russell was one of three children shot Monday night. Two other children were injured. No arrest has been made.

His uncle, Willie Edwards, said Russell was doing what came naturally to him — looking out for his sister.

“My Mike was, my Mike was a walking angel. He always been special y'all,” Edwards said. “You couldn't tell him nothing about his little sister.”

Edwards said Russell was a good-natured child who helped others and loved sports.

“My Mike was so sweet y'all. He was a sweet young man,” Edwards said. “Take out the trash for everybody; help the neighbors. My Mike with goofy little jokester, loved the laugh, loved to play it.”

Family members said Russell had been at the park near the Olde Salem Valley Apartments with his sister when the shooting happened.

His brother, 11-year-old Cordell Russell, said he was playing football at the park when the gunfire erupted.

“My brother went in the court with Serenity then that's when we heard the shots,” he said. “My brother saved my sister. He is a hero.”

Cordell said he and the other children initially ran when they heard the gunshots. He said he then felt compelled to return and check on his siblings.

“I looked around and I see my brother down on the floor,” he said.

Cordell said he then went to get his sister because Sha’michal could no longer do so.

“I think that was God who told me,” he said.

Sha’michal's aunt, Jessica Haley, said the family has been overwhelmed by the loss of a child she described as inspirational and deeply loved.

“The school loved him,” Haley said. “School have been out there rendering prayer because he was loved. He was a very inspirational person.”

Haley said Russell loved God, sang gospel music and was known for praying for others.

She said the family is asking anyone who knows anything about the shooting to come forward.

“We crying out for our city to pray,” Haley said. “But not only dare to speak up, to sound the alarm, to give us information that should be that we need to find out who is the killer.”

“We're not angry. We're not mad. But we know justice need to be served, and we want to hold him accountable,” she said.

Haley urged anyone with information to share it with investigators.

“Please come forward with any information that you have to release it,” she said. “If it was your child, if it was your brother, your sister, you would want to say so. Please come forward.”

The shooting has also left Russell's family worried about the effect violence is having on children in Shreveport.

“We need to stop this violence,” Haley said. “We need to let it show till our children sound the alarm, because this baby here have lost a brother.”

She said her own grandchildren have expressed fear after learning what happened.

“We're putting fear in the hearts of our children where they can't even go out and play and they shouldn't be,” Haley said. “Our children should have the freedom.”

Haley also serves as a chaplain and said she has seen the emotional toll violent incidents take on both families and law enforcement officers.

“Don't think that our officers don't hurt when they're pulling our babies from the pavement,” she said. “Our officers go home in pain.”

Russell's family said they are relying on their faith as they grieve.

Edwards called his nephew his “Superman,” and said Russell had the potential to accomplish much more in life.

“He was such a good young man,” Edwards said. “My man had potential. Oh, Lord. He loved sports. My Mike was sweet y’all.”

Cordell said he believes his brother is now in heaven.

“He's up there with God in Heaven as an angel,” he said.

As the investigation continues, Russell's family is asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators.

For the family, the circumstances of Russell's death have not changed how they see him.

“He would die to save his little sister,” Edwards said. “My Mike could make the same decision every day.”