With deep regret, we announce the tragic passing of Josiah Brackens, a 13-year-old boy from Harvey, Louisiana, who was fatally shot on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Josiah was pronounced dead at the scene around 2:15 p.m. in the 1400 block of Angus Drive after suffering a single gunshot wound. A doorbell camera captured his final moments as he left a home after being called outside. Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the homicide.
His mother, Darrineka Brackens, remembered him fondly, saying, “He had a good spirit. He had a good heart.” She noted that Josiah once knew how to read music but later seemed to lose interest in many things. She had recently sensed something was wrong and worried he might have been influenced by negative peers, hoping he would confide in her or find the strength to walk away.
A decade earlier, at just two years old, Josiah and his four-year-old brother Johnathan were critically injured in a devastating house fire. Johnathan tragically passed away from his injuries, while Josiah fought for his life, spending two weeks sedated in the hospital. To the eternal gratitude of his family, he recovered and grew into a resilient, smart teenager who carried quiet strength from that early trauma.
Josiah was remembered as a loving young boy with a resilient spirit, known for his kind heart and the joy he brought to family and friends. Despite the challenges he faced early in life, he continued forward with the support of loved ones who cherished his presence and the light he still managed to share.
The Harvey and broader Jefferson Parish community has been shaken by this senseless loss of a young life. As the investigation continues, Josiah’s family is navigating unimaginable grief while honoring the brave boy who survived one tragedy only to be taken by another.
Josiah Brackens will be remembered as a resilient young soul with a good heart whose life was filled with both hardship and moments of joy. Though taken far too soon at 13, the love he shared, the strength he showed, and the memories held by his mother and family will endure amid the sorrow of this profound loss.